Manhattan Beach Native Passes After Lengthy COVID-19 Battle
Nov 29, 2021 04:29PM ● By Jeanne Fratello
Photo via the Dellenbach family
Manhattan Beach native Eric Dellenbach, who had spent the past 11 months battling COVID-19 complications and endured a double lung transplant, passed away on November 24 at a San Francisco hospital.
"Our beloved and brave Eric passed peacefully earlier this
evening surrounded by his loved ones, listening to music of waves
crashing," wrote his sister-in-law Sam Schacher on the fundraising page that has become a center for information for friends and family. "His family was able to say their goodbyes, and our
incredibly brave Eri [his wife Erika] was laying on him, holding him, and kissing him
as he crossed that finish line, in first place. As shattered as we all
are - it was a send-off fit for a king. Well deserved."
Dellenbach, 52, had been hospitalized since early January and received the double lung transplant on April 12. He had been an otherwise healthy and active surfer with no underlying medical conditions before contracting COVID.
His brother Andy wrote a tribute to him on Thanksgiving in which he expressed gratitude to all of the family, friends, and health care workers who stood by him throughout his journey.
"I am thankful that Eric’s battle is over and he is not
struggling to breathe, is not in pain anymore and showed us what it looks
like to fight like a warrior. I am thankful that Eric reminded me - and
all of us - how precious life is…every breath, every hour, every day," wrote Andy. "Today, on this Thanksgiving, let’s celebrate all that Eric taught us
through his life, his battle and his passing and be thankful that we
have but a brief time on Earth, to be grateful for each other and to
make the most of it."
A Celebration of Life will be held at some point in the new year, Schacher told DigMB.
A Long and Torturous Journey
Dellenbach's
ordeal began when he entered the hospital in Seattle in early January
struggling with lung complications from COVID-19. Doctors soon concluded
that he would not survive unless he was on a highly specialized ECMO
(extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) life support machine. However, his
hospital did not have an ECMO machine, and since those machines are in
short supply, a patient has to qualify to be able to be placed on one.
The
family located a different hospital in Seattle - Swedish Hospital's
Cherry Hill Campus - where cardiologist Dr. John Mignone agreed that
Dellenbach was a good candidate for the machine.
During the difficult and risky transport process, Mignone
also became one of Dellenbach's strongest advocates. He actually
brought the ECMO machine to Eric - connecting him and then transporting
him - because he believed Dellenbach would not make the transfer
otherwise, said Schacher.
Dellenbach was on the ECMO machine for months. During that time, the family endured countless health
scares, with medical professionals telling them that he was not likely
to pull through. Eventually doctors decided that Dellenbach would need a
double lung transplant to survive, but the prospect was once again
risky because the organs are in short supply and there is still so much unknown about COVID-19 and its aftermath.
Family members - several of whom also
work in health care - made calls all around the country to find a
hospital that would accept Dellenbach as a double lung transfer patient.
Finally, led by Erika’s sister Monika who is an RN, they were able to
make arrangements for him to go to UC San Francisco, despite another
risky hospital transfer. Dellenbach was at the
medical center for about one week before a pair of lungs became
available through a donor. The surgery was completed successfully on April 12.
Since then, he has been in and out of UCSF and has gone through a roller coaster of medical progress as well as setbacks, which has been emotionally and physically draining on him as well as his family. The family remains grateful to UCSF for all they did, for always believing in him, and for always providing the best care, said Schacher.
Earlier this month, his wife Erika wrote on the GoFundMe update: "My sweet love is the most amazing human being I have ever been
blessed to know. He continues to smile his way through his darkest
moments and hardly ever complains. He continues to be as positive as he
can muster and his trust in his faith has never wavered. I can say with
100% certainty, I’ve never crossed paths in my lifetime with such an
individual…NEVER! He is the best gift along with our twins Jax &
Mia."
GoFundMe Unites Old Manhattan Beach Friends
The GoFundMe,
created by Dellenbach's college friend Monte Brem, has currently raised more than $176,000 with a goal of
hitting $200,000.
The campaign has brought
out some of his oldest friends from elementary school and throughout his
life in Manhattan Beach. (Dellenbach's mother still lives in Manhattan
Beach and his brother Andy is CEO of the Jimmy Miller Foundation.)
"Your
community of Manhattan Beach is without a doubt one of the most
supportive, uplifting communities," Schacher told DigMB in April. "The support has been
absolutely astounding. They just stepped up with everything. Everybody
from under the sun in that community that knew Eric made sure that they
were seen and heard supporting him and praying for him. But that goes to
Eric’s character as well. If you treat people with love and respect,
they want to return the favor."
Schacher
emphasized that the GoFundMe page has been vital not just for financial
support, but for emotional support, and for uniting those that know
Dellenbach together in prayers. It is now being used for prayers and support for Erika, Jax, and Mia.
Schacher continued, "The amount of love and light that has come from that page - It's been a lifesaver. It's been a lifeline."
She said that she hoped that Dellenbach's story could provide awareness
about both the possible complications of COVID-19 and about the critical
need for organ donations.
"If
we can make one person more cautious while we ride out this pandemic,
that can save a life. If we can make one person a donor, that can save a
life," she said.
