In August 2004, I was an Army First Sergeant, stationed in Germany, when I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. Bacteria from a root canal six months earlier was the cause.I spent a month in Wurzburg’s University Hospital. Doctors there told me that transplant was my only option.
Sent back to San Antonio, My doctors held off the inevitable for an additional year with a strict medicine regimen, an implanted cardiac device and lots of physical therapy. They are truly miracle workers!
While waiting to be listed I was always fatigued and winded.Grocery store trips were slow moving, and as short as possible.I wasn’t able to go upstairs to my daughter’s room to say good night.I could no longer mow the lawn; take out the garbage, or complete home projects. My job was to empty the dishwasher and cook, (I actually got pretty good). The stress on my family was a constant. On the day before Thanksgiving 2006 my nurse called and said that I had been listed! On the Tuesday following Thanksgiving 2006 the call came.
They told us that we had been offered an absolutely perfect heart; it was mine if I was ready!This was not a difficult decision.
My surgery lasted 3-1/2 hours!They had me walking 24-hours later!I was hospitalized for 10 days and came home on my wife's birthday!
The hospital staff had me sitting in a chair six hours after surgery and walking in under 24hours.I spent ten days in the hospital.My recovery has been remarkable and I feel great.
During the two and a half years since my transplant they have occasionally tweaked my medication but after 19 biopsies there have been no signs of rejection.
The grocery store now presents no challenge!I can now work on home projects, and to Heidi’s relief, mow the lawn again.My new heart has allowed us to celebrate our 26th Anniversary, travel to Mexico twice, snorkel the Yucatan caves, climb Mexico’s tallest Mayan Pyramid, and ski the Rockies.Most recently we built a home with Habitat for Humanity. As President of Vital Alliance, a local volunteer group that promotes organ and tissue donation I speak at health fairs, hospital staff training sessions and community events.
Our main tenet is to Honor our Donors and their Families. We do this through our annual Memorial Tree Plantings, and various other events. I also mentor pre-transplant heart patients.
My goals are to enjoy my renewed life, love my wife, see my daughter graduate from high school and college and someday spoil my grandchildren. My family and I owe a huge debt to my donor.We keep him/her present in our daily life.
