Monica- Heart Recipient

My story begins on February 3, 2016, the day after my 50th birthday. I was driving from the gym and had to pull over on the side of the road due to chest pains which I thought was a muscle spasm that would ease up in a few moments. The pain did not ease up. My cousin was with me and dialed 911. The ambulance picked me up in the parking lot of a grocery store. It was determined that I had two arteries that was over 80% blocked and they were stinted.

On February 5th, while waiting for my discharged papers, I experienced another episode. it was determined that the first stents occluded. With this episode, my heart stopped and the medical team had to use the paddles to restore me back. My cardiologist attempted to treat me with medications; however all treatment caused my blood pressure to drop to unsafe levels. I ultimately was diagnosed with heart failure and was put on complete bead rest.

My cardiologist referred me to the heart failure clinic and recommended me for an external defibrillator. In early May of 2016, I met with the heart failure team and it was determined that I would qualify for a heart transplant. I was admitted into the hospital late May and underwent a series of test to meet qualifications of a transplant. I was put on the transplant waiting list. While in the hospital I began to experience difficulties with my blood’s clotting factors. My blood was clotting around every instrument used as part of my health care. In early July, the medical team decided that my risk were too high and they could not perform the transplant.

The miracle: Exactly one hour before the medical team told me they were unable to perform the transplant, a long time friend of mine, texted me an article about a guy who had a dual transplant at the UofK AB Chandler Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. I realized in reading the article, that I went to high school with guy. That guy was Mr. Conrad Webster. I also realized that this was the same person my dad had mentioned to me months earlier; Conrad is the son of a close friend of my Dad. God used my friend to equip me with information before I knew I was going to need it.

When the medical team informed me they could not perform the transplant, I asked that my medical information be sent to the transplant program at UofK. Within 24 hours I was headed to Lexington Kentucky. i arrived at 2;30am on July 8th; my oldest son’s birthday. Later that morning I met with Dr. Guglin and Dr. Sekela. They assured me that what was risky for the Drs in Louisville, was atypical for their team.

For 19 days I experienced the best health care possible and was shown much compassion and understanding by the

total health care team; from my transplant coordinator, the nurses, and aides to housekeeping and food service staff. On July 27th, I was informed by my transplant coordinator that “a heart had been found for me.” My husband and I began to contact other family members; asking them to pray. I called my Dad (he had left Lexington the day before to go home and get some rest). He made it to Lexington in an hour. Around 9pm that evening, I was wheeled into the operating room. The transplant was completed around 4am on July 28, 2016. I had been given another opportunity at Life. Now i have 3 birthdays, my biological birthday, my spiritual birthday and my transplant birthday! I can say that I am truly truly Blessed