Admitted Patient With "Likely" H1N1 Symptoms Survives, Doctor Points to ECMO Treatment

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By Chris Earl

Story Created: Nov 16, 2009 at 2:37 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 16, 2009 at 6:22 PM CST

IOWA CITY - 17 days ago, April Chohon spent her Saturday night like many of us.

"Halloween night, I was handing out candy to little kids and I kept getting feverish," said Chohon, 26, of Des Moines. "Hot and cold."

Soon after, the days became fuzzy and she didn't quite know where she was. After going to a Des Moines hospital, she said the "next thing I know I'm waking up in Iowa City."

At least she did wake up. The start of 11 days at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

"Low oxygen levels, likely related to H1N1," said Dr. William Lynch. He called her oxygen levels "dangerously low". He had April hooked up to an artificial lung of sorts - known as Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO).

Dr. Lynch showed us hospital video of Choron's blue blood -- without oxygen -- getting taken out of her body -- and replaced with red, oxygen-rich blood.

"This is the artificial lung," said Dr. Lynch. "Put oxygen in it. The blood goes in blue and comes out red. "

Dr. Lynch says this device kept his patient conscious and mobile - which helped recovery. Much better than paralyzing medicines and being strapped to a bed. "That is the reason she's getting out of the hospital less than 2 weeks after getting here."

That's two weeks of being a single mom far from home, far from her little girl Kalli, 4, and her son Brendan, 3.

"I feel like I dodged the big one and I'm lucky," said Choron. "Really lucky. Glad to still be here."

Minutes before April Choron and her father left for home, she told us about how much she can't stand needles. She'll have to get over it.

"I'm going to school for a nursing assistant."

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