COVINGTON, Ky. — Grant Oller of Covington is living his best life after surviving a potentially deadly illness as a teenager.
What You Need To Know
- Grant Oller was diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome when he was 16-years-old
- The condition causes inflammation and fluid buildup in the lungs
- He underwent treatment at Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville, lost nearly 50 pounds and had to relearn how to use his muscles and perform basic activities
- He now lives a healthy life six years later
Oller, 22, now works a full-time job and lives a healthy lifestyle. But life wasn’t always normal for the Western Kentucky University graduate.
“I wake up every day, thankful to be here,” Oller said.
Six years ago, when Oller was 16, he said he nearly lost his life after being diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a condition that causes inflammation and fluid buildup in the lungs.
The mortality rate of the disease ranges from 35% to 46%, according to BMC Pulmonary Medicine. He underwent treatment at Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville.
“My oxygen levels, my O2 levels, fell into the single digits,” Oller said. “If you’re not familiar, they’re supposed to be in the upper 90s or even 100s.”
An extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine and a ventilator helped keep Oller alive, but he slipped into a coma for a month. While in the hospital, Oller’s support was unwavering, with his parents by his side during the journey.
“Dad stayed up for about four consecutive days so he wouldn’t miss a moment,” Oller said.
Many students showed an outpouring of support at Owensboro High School, which Oller attended.
“I was on the baseball team in high school,” Oller said. “They had a prayer vigil for me on the field, which was very nice.”
Through his persistence, Oller woke up after 31 days, but the fight wasn’t over. He lost nearly 50 pounds during the ordeal and had to relearn how to use his muscles and perform basic activities, such as using the restroom.
“I remember when I was in the rehab portion, trying to gain muscle back, we spent an entire day just getting into a vehicle, just moving your body, trying to get into a car,” he said. “That’s just something you don’t think about.”
He’s living a healthy life six years later and enjoys activities such as collecting records and playing sports in his spare time.
“I feel like I’m on borrowed time; I always tell people that I’m grateful for all the opportunities that I get, even if it is sitting here on the couch in my apartment or spending time with my family,” Oller said.