In mid 2003 I lost my breath and was diagnosed Alpha 1 deficiency. Since autmn 2004 I was receiving augmentation therapy and since then my condition has been stable, but lung functions slowly decreasing. I climbed till summer 2015, since then lungs could no longer provide me enough oxigen even to walk to the toilette, so the 2 years till September 2017 have been tough

On 22nd of September 2017 I had lungs transplantation performed at AKH Wien. I have to thank the team at AKH Wien and Pulmology dep at UKC Ljubljana to give me the chance for my "second life"
On 9th of November I was released from UKC Ljubljana and got home, still very weak, but breathing much better. Since then I have been training every day to catch my previous shape as soon as possible

In 2020 my physical condition was back and I could climb long alpine routes besides doing my every day job at Metron institute . When I almost reached my peak, I got Covid 19 and ended in koma and on respirator (December 2020). Doctors say I almost passed away, but somehow survived. After 43 days at intensive care, I was transferred to Pulmology dep. at UKC Ljubljana where I stayed for another month. I could not move my limbs, so a treatment at rehabilitation centre Soca was also necessary after release from the hospital. Thanks to our best medical and physiotherapy teams I was at home after 3 months and in april 2021 I was able to climb again. Now I am working hard to build up my strength for the second time, it will probably take another year of hard working. So I could say that in 2021 I entered my third life...

My story - short movie about my Alpha 1 deficiency

36 hours after lungs transplantation

My lungs transplantation movie from the hospital

I started training at our home gym 2 weeks after I have been released from hospital

First ice climbing 15 months after lungs transplantation

History of my "Quest for Alpha 1"

Since 2005 I have been receiving augmentation therapy from company Kamada
This medicine helped me to maintain the quality of life till 2015

Sometimes we performed IV at very wierd places, like this one at base camp in Tajikistan mountains in 2005

In 2010 I attended a conference about Alpha 1 deficiency in Orlando, Florida