20 months later: Erie-area doctor returns to work after COVID-19, double-lung transplant

Twenty months after he contracted COVID-19 severe enough to require a double-lung transplant, Carl Seon, M.D., is returning to work.

The 53-year-old Fairview Township orthopedic surgeon will begin seeing patients Sept. 1 at the Whole Health Orthopedic Institute in Meadville, and expects to perform surgeries again in October.

It's an amazing recovery for Seon, who spent nearly four months in the hospital fighting for his life.

"There were several times when my wife was told she should come and say goodbye as I was on the verge of death," Seon said in an email interview with the Erie Times-News. "I don't remember that period very well as I was in a coma."

Seon's battle caught the attention of his former patients, and his coworkers at UPMC Hamot, where he worked at the time. Signs saying "#seonstrong" were posted in the Erie hospital's windows and Hamot employees gathered on the hosptial's front lawn one day to honor the physician.

He was diagnosed with COVID-19 just before Christmas 2020, during the area's first surge in cases. Though he was just 51 at the time and in good shape, Seon's condition quickly worsened and he had to be placed on a ventilator at Hamot before being transported to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh.

COVID battle: Erie surgeon undergoes double-lung transplant after battling COVID-19

"What happened is that he developed acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID," Pablo Sanchez, M.D., UPMC's chief of lung transplant and lung failure, said in a March 2021 interview. "When he arrived (at Presbyterian), he was a very sick man."

Seon suffered a COVID-19 complication, pulmonary fibrosis. The virus caused so much scarring and damage to his lungs that they couldn't provide enough oxygen to his body, even after he recovered from the infection.

To this day, Seon said he doesn't know why his case of COVID-19 was so severe.

"I have asked that question a few times to my physicians," Seon said. "They said my case was very rare. I was healthy, relatively young with essentially no underlying medical conditions. They have chalked it up to bad luck and perhaps a genetic susceptibility."

Seon's only cure was a double-lung transplant. He received a donated pair of lungs on Feb. 25, 2021.

Seon battled transplant rejection, buoyed by cards and letters

But Seon's battle wasn't finished. He remained at Presbyterian, and later UPMC Montefiore, for almost two more months recovering from the transplant surgery and fighting his body's attempt to reject the transplanted lungs.

He was often fatigued and short of breath, and was coughing quite a bit.

"It's hard to say what symptoms were from the rejection and what was from the various medications they were using to combat the rejection," Seon said. "They were trying different combinations and dosages, and they all have side effects."

COVID aftermath: Update: UPMC Hamot doctor, a COVID victim, recovering from double-lung transplant

As Seon recovered from the initial infection and subsequent transplant, cards and letters arrived from family, friends, coworkers, former patients and others in the community.

He received so many well wishes that his family packed them all into cardboard boxes.

"I remember my wife would read them to me until I fell asleep," Seon said. "I cannot thank all those who prayed for me and my family enough. I truly believe without their support, I would not be here today."

COVID survivors: 'I haven't felt whole for a year': Erie County residents deal with long-haul COVID-19

Seon going back to work, but not at UPMC Hamot

Seon still doesn't feel 100% back to normal, though he said his strength and endurance continue to improve. He is noticeably thinner in recent photos than he was in older ones taken before his infection.

He does feel well enough to return to work, though he isn't going back to Hamot.

"Unfortunately, UPMC had a change of heart regarding my return, and I was forced to change my plans," Seon said.

A Hamot spokeswoman said UPMC does not comment on personnel matters.

Seon will instead work at the Whole Health Orthopedic Institute, which specializes in outpatient hip and knee replacement surgeries. He has consulted with his physicians at UPMC on a plan to resume working. He will work one day a week seeing patients in the office before starting surgeries in October.

Most COVID-19 patients as sick as Seon was have not recovered as well, said Silpa Kilaru, M.D., a UPMC pulmonologist overseeing Seon's recovery.

"Dr. Seon was incredibly sick prior to transplant ... so the fact that he has been able to recover to the point where he can live a normal life and even go back to work part-time as a physician is incredible," Kilaru said in an email. "He has worked really hard in his post-transplant journey and hopefully it is finally paying off."

Fighting COVID-19 and recovering from a double-lung transplant has given Seon an appreciation for life's small gifts and he said it will impact the way he works.

"I have learned to enjoy every moment and cherish the small things, like holding hands with my wife and daughter," Seon said. "Also, having been on the other side of the examination table ... I'd like to think that I will be more aware of what the patient may be feeling."

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNBruce.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie, PA doctor returns to work after COVID-19 and lung transplant