Mesa Woman Featured In National TV Segment

Scientific Discovery Show Highlights St. Joseph’s Innovative “Breathing” Lung TransplantMesa resident and “breathing” lung transplant recipient, Victoria Bloomfeld will be featured on Sunday, Feb. 9 in a new national scientific discovery television show called TechKnow.

Bloomfeld suffered for years from declining lung function due to pulmonary fibrosis before receiving an innovative, life-saving double lung transplant at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. Perfused with a blood based solution and “breathing” during transport, Bloomfeld’s new lungs received special care in a unique box-like device, called the Organ Care System by TransMedics, which is only used at five other sites in the United States. Now recovering, Bloomfeld just celebrated her 70th birthday and looks forward to having an active lifestyle once again.

“We are very happy that Victoria was able to share her story with the world,” says St. Joseph’s surgical director of lung transplantation, Michael Smith, MD, who is also featured in the piece and leads the clinical trial for the hospital. “With this technology, we’re not only able to keep the lungs living while outside the body, but we’re also able to monitor and potentially improve lung function prior to transplant.”

Currently, St. Joseph’s is the only hospital in Arizona providing lung transplantation services. 


Contact: Sara Baird, 602.406.3312

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