Mum critical and left needing new lungs after Covid ‘attacked me in every way’

A coronavirus sufferer cannot leave hospital without a double lung transplant.

Carmen Lerma, 52, from Wisconsin, US, tested positive for the virus in July when her health quickly deteriorated and she was moved to an intensive care unit.

The director at United Migrant Opportunity Services, Milwaukee, was plugged into a ventilator for 45 days.

Having fought for survival over the past three months, Lerma has now been told that the virus caused irreversible damage to her lungs and she will not be able to leave the hospital until doctors find her a new set of lungs.

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Speaking to WISN 12, Lerma said: "This coronavirus attacked me in every way possible that it could.

"I got double pneumonia. I got attacked through my immune system."

The state health department called Lerma to tell her she has been exposed to someone who tested positive for Covid-19.

The mum then tested positive and was soon admitted to Ascension St Francis in Milwaukee, according to WTMJ-TV.

Despite not having any underlying health conditions and quitting smoking several years ago, Lerma has suffered irreversible damage to her lungs.

She is now receiving supplemental oxygen as she waits for a transplant at UW Health, in Madison.

Lerma added: "I'm literally on 100 percent oxygen, which is even more challenging.

"Put your mask on.

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"Maybe you don't care, but protect your parents, your kids, your grandparents, because they are the ones that are going to battle the most."

Lerma's family and friends up have set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of her medical bills.

As of Monday afternoon, more than $28,600 has been raised out of a $100,000 goal.

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