Derek

All of my life I have been an active person.  I exercised regularly including running, cycling and weightlifting. However, In 2018 I went into complete heart-block and had a pacemaker installed.  Until September of 2021 I went back to nearly normal activity.  At that point I was notified that I was in A-Fib and had reached the official status of Heart Failure. Life at that point changed drastically with the medications, lack of energy, and loss of my ability to exercise productively. 

All of a sudden the simple things in life such as  walking with my wife, moving the trash cans to the road weekly, and working in the yard became extremely difficult. I convinced myself this was my new normal. Seeking more answers,  my local cardiologist referred me for a consultation with Cleveland Clinic in May 2023. Within three weeks I was diagnosed with Cardiac Sarcoidosis and a new treatment plan was implemented.  In less than a year I was brought to Cleveland by ambulance from Lexington, KY and entered the protocols for heart transplant.

I entered as a level 3 and was fully expecting to be in the hospital waiting for months.  I made peace that  God was in control of the entire situation and was willing to wait as long as it took  for a new heart.  Being in ICU limited my movement without a nurse being present.  My family had to return home to Kentucky to their individual lives.  I missed my son’s college graduation and I missed  them all greatly when I was alone in Cleveland.

On Jun 4, 2024, I was experiencing a normal day in the ICU.  My nurse was in my  room and a  doctor I had never  seen  walked in.  He started to speak and my nurse asked to speak to him outside first.  Shortly after they walked back in with a whole host of nurses and techs, and explained to me that there was a heart available.  I recorded the conversation.  I immediately called my wife who was over 5 hours away and told her, “I got a heart!”  All I could do was cry…and praise God for this new opportunity.

It is now a little more than three months since my transplant.  I feel AWESOME!  My wonderful donor heart is amazing.  I am now able to do things I haven’t been able to since before 2021.  I walk a minimum of five miles each day and have started lifting weights again.  I am determined to keep this heart as healthy as possible with exercise and an appropriate diet.  While I cannot do a few things I’d like to (and feel like doing) such as yard work, I feel productive around the house doing housework and everyday tasks.  I miss going to public events like church and ball games, but understand that is part of the process to avoid anything that will sidetrack my progress.  I certainly look forward to the day I’m less immunocompromised and can feel comfortable around family and friends for indoor events. 

All throughout the process I talked with transplant recipients about their experiences, including how they felt about their donor.  Each person emphasized they at times felt guilty about someone losing their life.  I am amazed that families can make this choice.  I don’t know the circumstances of my donor’s sacrifice, but want the family to know that I think this is the most amazing gift anyone could offer.  It can’t be easy but hopefully knowing how much the recipient and family appreciate this decision and that we thank God daily for them, can give them a little peace that allows them to know God was at work in all of our lives, even if we don’t understand why. 

Maybe someday I can share with the family the whole story of how I saw God’s hands in every aspect of this process.  I pray that God will help me give them some comfort and they see through my life that their decision was blessed.