Man shares how silicosis affected his psychological well being – NBC Los Angeles

Psychological well being may be fragile throughout tough moments in life, however when somebody is already residing with an incurable continual sickness, the mixture may be significantly devastating.

“The physician known as me and stated, ‘Dennys, I’ve to let you know one thing, you might have two years to reside,’” recalled Dennys René Rivas Williams who suffered from a extreme lung illness.

With each breath he takes, he defies a destiny that after appeared inescapable.

“If I hadn’t acquired the transplant, I might have died,” he added.

Dennys, an immigrant from Guatemala, now breathes with renewed hope, because of a double lung transplant he acquired a yr in the past.

“I received nervous. I stated goodbye to my youngsters, my siblings, my father and my accomplice,” stated Dennys, who was 36 years previous when he had the surgical procedure.

He remembers waking up from surgical procedure and telling his father that he beloved him.

For over seven years, Dennys labored slicing and sprucing counter tops for bogs and kitchens.

“We labored dry, with the dry materials. There have been large clouds of mud,” Dennys defined.

However in 2022, he started experiencing signs and needed to cease working.

“I began respiration by way of my mouth, and my father requested me, ‘What’s incorrect?’” he recalled.

Dennys was recognized with silicosis, a illness with no treatment that may change into continual.

“It’s deadly as a result of its development can’t be stopped,” says Dr. Jane Fazio, a pulmonologist at UCLA.

“It’s a illness attributable to inhaling silica mud, crystalline silica,” Fazio defined. “The mud enters the lungs, causes irritation, and over time results in scarring.”

Silica is a mineral compound present in supplies utilized in development and fabrication.

“Silicosis is an occupational lung illness attributable to inhaling silica mud whereas slicing, sanding, drilling, or sprucing synthetic stone,” defined José Escobar from the Los Angeles County Division of Public Well being.

He added that “synthetic stone slabs typically include greater than 90% silica.”

Most of these affected, in line with Dr. Fazio, “are immigrants from Latin America; males of their 30s and 40s, many with younger youngsters.”

Earlier than his transplant, Dennys trusted an oxygen tank to breathe. However he was additionally preventing one other battle.

“I used to be hitting all-time low with melancholy,” Dennys admited.

“Anybody recognized with a illness that impacts their capability to operate as they as soon as did begins to expertise emotions of misery,” says Antonio Bañuelos, a program supervisor on the Los Angeles County Division of Psychological Well being.

In response to a examine, greater than 99% of sufferers with silicosis confirmed signs of hysteria, and 86% skilled signs of melancholy.

“After the transplant, you suppose, ‘I made it.’ However no, you haven’t actually made it,” Dennys stated.

In response to specialists, the common life expectancy for lung transplant recipients is six years.

“A lung transplant is important for sufferers with superior silicosis who qualify and who would in any other case not survive,” stated Escobar.

Due to this, Dennys sought emotional remedy.

“It has impacted me tremendously, within the sense that you simply expertise temper swings which you can’t even deal with,” he stated.

Bañuelos defined, “On this case, it’s like experiencing a loss, not essentially the demise of a beloved one, however the lack of well being, independence, the flexibility to contribute to the household. All of that’s vital.”

“I reached a degree the place I instructed my accomplice, ‘You already know what? If you wish to go away, go forward. This can be a lengthy course of, and I don’t know for those who’ll have the ability to endure it with me,’” Dennys recalled.

However his household by no means deserted him.

“I’m very grateful to her for standing by me,” he stated.

Love at house has been his protect in opposition to the uncertainty of the longer term.

“I’ve my household’s assist. I’ve my youngsters, and I wish to see them develop. I’ve at all times held onto my religion in God, and because of Him, I’m right here at the moment sharing my story,” he stated.

In California, 15 folks have died from silicosis, and greater than 250 have been recognized since 2019, in line with official knowledge.

In case you are experiencing a psychological well being disaster, name 988.

This report was produced in collaboration with the USC Heart for Well being Journalism.