An Abbotsford man who had a lung transplant on Jan. 7 is recovering well.

Kolton Fowlie, 25, went through the 8.5-hour surgery at Vancouver General Hospital, after which he was moved into the intensive care unit.

He was taken off life support the following day 鈥� something that his mom, Casandra Hiscock, stated in social media posts is not typical for in this situation.  

鈥淢ost patients take about a week to come off life support after such intense surgery,鈥� she wrote.

Two days after surgery, Fowlie was able to sit up in a chair, and by day three, he was walking.

In the days since, Fowlie has had his nasogastric tube and two of his four chest tubes removed, and has been able to walk for longer periods.

But Hiscock said the recovery process will continue to be gruelling.

鈥淗is chest bones, broken during surgery and wired shut, will take at least 12 weeks to heal. That鈥檚 just one of many hurdles he鈥檒l face. There will be months of exhaustion, frustration, pain 鈥� but we know Kolton. He鈥檚 a fighter. He鈥檚 always been one,鈥� Hiscock said.

Fowlie was diagnosed at the age of one with a terminal condition known as bronchiolitis obliterans. The disease causes scarring and inflammation of the airways, which leads to a decline in lung function.

Fowlie鈥檚 condition took a critical turn last month, and he was placed on the transplant list on Dec. 23.

He and his family found out on Jan. 6 that he had been matched with a deceased donor.

Hiscock says the family be 鈥渇orever grateful鈥� to the donor and their family.

鈥淭his incredible gift of life came at an unimaginable cost for them, and we carry that in our hearts every single day,鈥� she said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 something that鈥檚 hard to put into words 鈥� how do you thank someone for saving your child鈥檚 life? How do you honour such a gift? All we can do is cherish every moment 鈥� and keep moving forward, one day at a time.鈥�

A GoFundMe campaign is continuing to raise money for medical and household expenses while Hiscock and her husband, Joe, remain by Fowlie鈥檚 side.
The page can be found by searching 鈥溾�� at gofundme.com.