About

Bri Circle Photo

My name is Brianna Iacona, and I am a 32 year old mom and teacher at Chesapeake City Elementary School in Cecil County, Maryland. In September 2021, I tested positive for COVID. Very quickly after, I was admitted into Christiana Hospital and immediately put on ECMO which is a critical life support. Within about two weeks, I was transported by helicopter to University of Penn Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In October 2021, I needed immediate heart surgery to remove a life-threatening blood clot. It was also determined that my lungs would never recover so I would need a double lung transplant to save my life. On December 28, 2021, I went into an 8 hour surgery to receive my new lungs. Then I spent the next few weeks recovering in the ICU and eventually a general floor at University of Penn.

In the beginning of February 2022, I was transferred to Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Center just a short drive away from the hospital. I stayed there for an additional four weeks where I worked extremely hard to regain my strength in order to stand, walk, and take care of myself independently. On March 4, 2022, I was able to return home to my family including my husband, Phil, my three year old son, Brayson, and our pug, Tanner. I completed about six weeks of outpatient rehab at University of Penn where I continued to work on my recovery and learned how to live life post-transplant. In August of 2022, I was able to return to work full time in the classroom. I am currently past the one year mark of my transplant, and I continue to work hard each day to live life as best as I can. Thanks to the amazing team of nurses and doctors at University of Penn and the generosity of my organ donation family I am able to experience all that life has to offer.

In the News

Current Photos