DENVER, CO | April 6, 2021
Damian Solorzano lost his father, John Solorzano, from COVID-19 while his wife, daughter and himself were fortunate to beat the virus. Now he plans to climb with his team in the American Lung Association’s outdoor Fight For Air Climb in memory of his dad and raise money to end lung disease and COVID-19.
“My dad had a combination of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF),” Solorzano said. “He was oxygen dependent the last 12-15 years of his life.”
Solorzano worked directly with COVID-19 patients at Denver Health and St. Josephs as a Respiratory Therapist, seeing firsthand the two patient groups heavily impacted during the pandemic. He is now working as a specialist for Masimo providing technology for hospitals caring for COVID-19 patients.