EXETER — Firefighter/AEMT Dylan Raymond never imagined that he’d end up hospitalized in the ICU and placed on a ventilator after getting checked out for a lingering cough nearly two weeks ago.

He remains in the hospital today after both lungs collapsed, but he’s now on the road to recovery following a frightening health scare that has worried his wife, their two children, and his family members at home and at the Exeter Fire Department.   

The experience has been life and even career-changing for the 28-year-old firefighter who was in the midst of schooling to receive his paramedic certification when he was sidelined and now likely faces uncertain financial difficulties as he tries to get back on his feet. 

“It’s definitely given me a better sense of empathy toward the patients that we have and a better understanding of what they’re going through with any related difficulties and what to expect for them when they go to the hospital for something similar,” he said from his hospital bed earlier this week.

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An online fundraising campaign has been established to assist Raymond and his family through GoFundMe. Donations can be made here.

The illness began a month ago when he experienced a cough that worsened over time.

He eventually went to an urgent care center where he was told that he likely had bronchitis and was given an inhaler, but two days later he went to the hospital, where doctors thought he might have pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough. He was given another inhaler and antibiotics.

“That night was terrible. I couldn’t breathe for about 12 hours or so. Finally, at 4 a.m. my wife said we needed to go to the hospital,” he recalled.

When he arrived at Concord Hospital, Raymond’s oxygen saturation had dropped into the low 80s.

He received further treatment, but eventually passed out. He then underwent endotracheal intubation and had three chest tubes inserted. Doctors discovered that both of Raymond’s lungs had collapsed. 

“For 36 hours, I was sedated and tubed. I woke up and then I started to get better, but my lungs were still leaking,” he said.

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Doctors have since determined that he experienced adult-onset asthma. 

“I’ve never had it before. It’s never been discussed before, so this is totally brand new to me. They don’t know how the lungs collapsed. They’ve had a few different theories. It could have been anything from coughing so much to any number of things,” he said.

Raymond underwent surgery earlier this week to remove the lining of his chest and through a procedure known as talc pleurodesis, sterile talc powder was used to adhere the lungs to the inside of the chest wall to keep them from deflating. 

While he’s still pretty sore, Raymond is hopeful that the recovery from the surgery will continue to go smoothly and he will be released from the hospital Friday.

“Assuming everything goes well with that and nothing gets worse, I should be out by Friday,” he said.

He’s not sure how long the recovery will take and when he’ll be back to work. Even while battling his illness, Raymond has tried to find some time to get homework done for paramedic school, which he began in January and hopes to continue despite his health scare.

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As soon as they heard that he was hospitalized, members of the Exeter Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 3491 reached out and made arrangements for Raymond’s wife, Cassie, and other family to stay in a hotel near the hospital.

“We’ve been in contact with him daily. He really is in good spirits,” said Exeter Fire Lt. Matt Slattery, president of the Exeter firefighters’ union. “It’s just a matter of getting him well enough to get home, to get on the mend so he can come back to work and go to school and get on with his life and get over this illness. We’re all thinking about him.”

Exeter Assistant Fire Chief Justin Pizon said the illness is a reminder of just how fragile life can be.

"We want Dylan to know that the town of Exeter and all of us here at the Exeter Fire Department are behind him and we’re here to support him every step of the way as he recovers,” he said. “We’re happy to know that he’s on the mend and will hopefully be back home with his family very soon.” 

Raymond said he’s been extremely grateful for the love and support he’s received from the Exeter and Gilmanton fire departments and union members.

In addition to working in Exeter, Raymond is a call firefighter at the Gilmanton Fire Department.

“Everyone has been so supportive. It’s been amazing,” he said.