Coronavirus Brings Challenges, Perspective To Transplant Patient

YAPHANK, NY — Angie Tempio spent three months in quarantine and isolation, trying to stay healthy and sane while not having any human contact. That was July 2019 and now Tempio is back in quarantine because of the coronavirus pandemic, although this time she's far from alone.

Tempio, 25, is a Yaphank resident who underwent a heart transplant after struggling for years with restrictive cardiopathy, which increasingly impacted her quality of life after being diagnosed at age 11. Tempio earned a GED but couldn't even think about college or career plans until she was able to receive a new heart at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. She never imagined that after coming out of her first three-month quarantine that she'd be back in isolation, she told Patch, but her experience offers her a unique sense of perspective and gratefulness even through this time, she says.

"I think I speak for all transplant patients when I say it's so odd not to be a minority," she said, used to being the only person wearing masks and concerned about social distancing. Because of the high doses of steroids organ transplant recipients must take, Tempio is considered immuno-suppressed and will always need to be more careful, even after the one-year mark that typically means a recipient can begin to live a relatively normal life. She entered her second quarantine earlier than many, the second week of March, and has only left her house twice since then, to drive by family members' homes to say hello for their birthdays.

"Being quarantined is definitely not easy," Tempio says. "It takes a toll on your mental state." But she learned ways to cope last summer that she says others struggling with social distancing now due to COVID-19 might be able to benefit from.

"I found ways to stay busy, taking dog my dog for walks, learning a new hobby." We can be grateful for technology like FaceTime and social media that allows us to stay connected to others, she reflected. Making sure to get outside and get sunlight every day goes a long way, she said.

Tempio is a student at Suffolk Community College and wants to study nursing and ultimately become a transplant coordinator. She tries to keep a positive outlook but finds it hurtful when she sees those not taking the social distancing seriously.

"When you look at the grand scheme of things, it could be worse. You get to be safe in your house, your family is safe." And she pointed out, "there it no rhyme or reason to who gets [seriously] sick with COVID-19."

When the pandemic first began, Tempio panicked when she couldn't find any Lysol wipes, any personal masks or any hand sanitizer. One day she opened her front door to find bags of supplies, donated by family friends and neighbors.

"I cried when I saw it."

LiveOnNY is a federally-designated nonprofit that connects donor families and organ recipients in the New York City area, and their network of volunteers has been arranging contact-free supply drop-offs for transplant recipients who may not have support networks. Organ donation is still going on in New York hospitals, although any COVID-19 positive individual cannot donate organs, Ali McSherry, a coordinator with the group, told Patch.

"In a time of such loss, the idea of possibly saving a life means so much," McSherry said.

Tempio doesn't know when she will feel comfortable leaving isolation, returning to school, continuing the life she got a newfound lease on last summer. But she hopes we get her message to take the recommended measures seriously.

"There are so many things outside my control. I can only control and do what I can."