More than 200 COVID-19 patients have received a lung transplant in the United States, including 16 at Houston Methodist Hospital – the most in Texas and third most in the country. Jesus Ceja Ceja is one of those people in need of a double lung tra

More than 200 COVID-19 patients have received a lung transplant in the United States, including 16 at Houston Methodist Hospital – the most in Texas and third most in the country.

Jesus Ceja Ceja is one of those people in need of a double lung transplant after the COVID infection left him dependent on ECMO, a life-support machine which pulls blood from his body and pushes it back through the tubes that crown his head and snake deep inside his heart.

A team of nurses, physical therapists and an ECMO specialist ready Jesus, center, to walk down a hallway as he continued to work on regaining physical strength at Houston Methodist Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Perla Munguia flips through a photo book their seven-year-old daughter made for Jesus when he left Mexico to work his latest job in Louisiana, during a visit at Houston Methodist Hospital’s intensive care unit on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, in Houston,

Perla Munguia flips through a photo book their seven-year-old daughter made for Jesus when he left Mexico to work his latest job in Louisiana, during a visit at Houston Methodist Hospital’s intensive care unit on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Jesus – helped by a team of nurses, physical therapists and an ECMO specialist – walked down a hallway as he continued to work on regaining physical strength at Houston Methodist Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Jesus – helped by a team of nurses, physical therapists and an ECMO specialist – walked down a hallway as he continued to work on regaining physical strength at Houston Methodist Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Perla talked to Jesus – who for the first time since starting to walk at the hospital decided to look out of a window – during a break from physical therapy at Houston Methodist Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Houston, Texas. “It’s so big

Perla talked to Jesus – who for the first time since starting to walk at the hospital decided to look out of a window – during a break from physical therapy at Houston Methodist Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Houston, Texas. “It’s so big out there,” he said. “I didn’t know what this place looked like.”

Perla answers a phone call as she visits Jesus at Houston Methodist Hospital on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, in Houston, Texas. With Jesus hospitalized Perla juggles phone calls from the transplant team, social workers and family members to discuss his car

Perla answers a phone call as she visits Jesus at Houston Methodist Hospital on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, in Houston, Texas. With Jesus hospitalized Perla juggles phone calls from the transplant team, social workers and family members to discuss his care.

Perla talks with Jesus after the couple was informed he will be undergoing the transplant surgery in a few moments at Houston Methodist Hospital on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Perla talks with Jesus after the couple was informed he will be undergoing the transplant surgery in a few moments at Houston Methodist Hospital on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Jesus high-fives nurses as he is wheeled off to the operating room by the surgical team at Houston Methodist Hospital on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Jesus high-fives nurses as he is wheeled off to the operating room by the surgical team at Houston Methodist Hospital on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Erik Suarez, left, and assistant thoracic surgeon Ray Chihara, right, attach the right donor lung to Jesus' chest by suturing the airway and pulmonary arteries back together on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Erik Suarez, left, and assistant thoracic surgeon Ray Chihara, right, attach the right donor lung to Jesus' chest by suturing the airway and pulmonary arteries back together on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Working in Jesus' half-empty chest, the surgeons temporarily close off exposed arteries to prevent major blood loss on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Houston, Texas. A ventilator pushes air into the donor lungs in Jesus' body to test lung function.

Working in Jesus' half-empty chest, the surgeons temporarily close off exposed arteries to prevent major blood loss on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Houston, Texas. A ventilator pushes air into the donor lungs in Jesus' body to test lung function.

Jesus smiles as he changes into his own clothes right before being discharged from Houston Methodist Hospital on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Houston, Texas. "I feel like Frankenstein," he says.

Jesus smiles as he changes into his own clothes right before being discharged from Houston Methodist Hospital on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Houston, Texas. "I feel like Frankenstein," he says.

Jesus and his family hang out in his bedroom after Perla returns from Mexico with their children on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in Baytown, Texas. Their arrival gives him an emotional boost as he struggles to sleep at night. He battles lingering stress a

Jesus and his family hang out in his bedroom after Perla returns from Mexico with their children on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in Baytown, Texas. Their arrival gives him an emotional boost as he struggles to sleep at night. He battles lingering stress and anxiety.

Erick, 3, inspects the wound left on his father’s neck by the ECMO tubes on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in Baytown, Texas. "What happened?" the boy asks. Jesus replies "I got an injection."

Erick, 3, inspects the wound left on his father’s neck by the ECMO tubes on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in Baytown, Texas. "What happened?" the boy asks. Jesus replies "I got an injection."

Jesus hugs Perla and his daughter, Victoria, in their living room during Christmas Eve on Friday, Dec. 24, 2021, in Baytown, Texas.

Jesus hugs Perla and his daughter, Victoria, in their living room during Christmas Eve on Friday, Dec. 24, 2021, in Baytown, Texas.

Jesus plays with his son Erick, 3, inside his bedroom on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in Baytown, Texas.

Jesus plays with his son Erick, 3, inside his bedroom on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in Baytown, Texas.

Jesus sits on the porch as motorists drive past his home on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, in Baytown, Texas. Now restricted from working, he thinks about what the future holds for him and his family.

Jesus sits on the porch as motorists drive past his home on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, in Baytown, Texas. Now restricted from working, he thinks about what the future holds for him and his family.

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More than 200 COVID-19 patients have received a lung transplant in the United States, including 16 at Houston Methodist Hospital – the most in Texas and third most in the country. Jesus Ceja Ceja is one of those people in need of a double lung tra
Perla Munguia flips through a photo book their seven-year-old daughter made for Jesus when he left Mexico to work his latest job in Louisiana, during a visit at Houston Methodist Hospital’s intensive care unit on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, in Houston,
Jesus – helped by a team of nurses, physical therapists and an ECMO specialist – walked down a hallway as he continued to work on regaining physical strength at Houston Methodist Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Houston, Texas.
Perla talked to Jesus – who for the first time since starting to walk at the hospital decided to look out of a window – during a break from physical therapy at Houston Methodist Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Houston, Texas. “It’s so big
Perla answers a phone call as she visits Jesus at Houston Methodist Hospital on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, in Houston, Texas. With Jesus hospitalized Perla juggles phone calls from the transplant team, social workers and family members to discuss his car
Perla talks with Jesus after the couple was informed he will be undergoing the transplant surgery in a few moments at Houston Methodist Hospital on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Houston, Texas.
Jesus high-fives nurses as he is wheeled off to the operating room by the surgical team at Houston Methodist Hospital on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Erik Suarez, left, and assistant thoracic surgeon Ray Chihara, right, attach the right donor lung to Jesus' chest by suturing the airway and pulmonary arteries back together on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Houston, Texas.
Working in Jesus' half-empty chest, the surgeons temporarily close off exposed arteries to prevent major blood loss on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Houston, Texas. A ventilator pushes air into the donor lungs in Jesus' body to test lung function.
Jesus smiles as he changes into his own clothes right before being discharged from Houston Methodist Hospital on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Houston, Texas. "I feel like Frankenstein," he says.
Jesus and his family hang out in his bedroom after Perla returns from Mexico with their children on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in Baytown, Texas. Their arrival gives him an emotional boost as he struggles to sleep at night. He battles lingering stress a
Erick, 3, inspects the wound left on his father’s neck by the ECMO tubes on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in Baytown, Texas. "What happened?" the boy asks. Jesus replies "I got an injection."
Jesus hugs Perla and his daughter, Victoria, in their living room during Christmas Eve on Friday, Dec. 24, 2021, in Baytown, Texas.
Jesus plays with his son Erick, 3, inside his bedroom on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in Baytown, Texas.
Jesus sits on the porch as motorists drive past his home on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, in Baytown, Texas. Now restricted from working, he thinks about what the future holds for him and his family.
HHC_2022_02_20_Page_2.jpg
HHC_2022_02_21_Page_1.jpg
HHC_2022_02_22_Page_1.jpg

More than 200 COVID-19 patients have received a lung transplant in the United States, including 16 at Houston Methodist Hospital – the most in Texas and third most in the country.

Jesus Ceja Ceja is one of those people in need of a double lung transplant after the COVID infection left him dependent on ECMO, a life-support machine which pulls blood from his body and pushes it back through the tubes that crown his head and snake deep inside his heart.

A team of nurses, physical therapists and an ECMO specialist ready Jesus, center, to walk down a hallway as he continued to work on regaining physical strength at Houston Methodist Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Perla Munguia flips through a photo book their seven-year-old daughter made for Jesus when he left Mexico to work his latest job in Louisiana, during a visit at Houston Methodist Hospital’s intensive care unit on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Jesus – helped by a team of nurses, physical therapists and an ECMO specialist – walked down a hallway as he continued to work on regaining physical strength at Houston Methodist Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Perla talked to Jesus – who for the first time since starting to walk at the hospital decided to look out of a window – during a break from physical therapy at Houston Methodist Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Houston, Texas. “It’s so big out there,” he said. “I didn’t know what this place looked like.”

Perla answers a phone call as she visits Jesus at Houston Methodist Hospital on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, in Houston, Texas. With Jesus hospitalized Perla juggles phone calls from the transplant team, social workers and family members to discuss his care.

Perla talks with Jesus after the couple was informed he will be undergoing the transplant surgery in a few moments at Houston Methodist Hospital on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Jesus high-fives nurses as he is wheeled off to the operating room by the surgical team at Houston Methodist Hospital on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Erik Suarez, left, and assistant thoracic surgeon Ray Chihara, right, attach the right donor lung to Jesus' chest by suturing the airway and pulmonary arteries back together on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

Working in Jesus' half-empty chest, the surgeons temporarily close off exposed arteries to prevent major blood loss on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Houston, Texas. A ventilator pushes air into the donor lungs in Jesus' body to test lung function.

Jesus smiles as he changes into his own clothes right before being discharged from Houston Methodist Hospital on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Houston, Texas. "I feel like Frankenstein," he says.

Jesus and his family hang out in his bedroom after Perla returns from Mexico with their children on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in Baytown, Texas. Their arrival gives him an emotional boost as he struggles to sleep at night. He battles lingering stress and anxiety.

Erick, 3, inspects the wound left on his father’s neck by the ECMO tubes on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in Baytown, Texas. "What happened?" the boy asks. Jesus replies "I got an injection."

Jesus hugs Perla and his daughter, Victoria, in their living room during Christmas Eve on Friday, Dec. 24, 2021, in Baytown, Texas.

Jesus plays with his son Erick, 3, inside his bedroom on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in Baytown, Texas.

Jesus sits on the porch as motorists drive past his home on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, in Baytown, Texas. Now restricted from working, he thinks about what the future holds for him and his family.

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