Scott Umbarger – Heart and Liver Recipient

In February 2002, while walking across the street to go to work, I almost passed out.  I went to the doctor, and he diagnosed me with congestive heart failure.  I was then fitted with an AICD (Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators) to keep me alive if at some point my heart just stopped beating.  I lived with the AICD for four years, and I was in and out of the hospital for one reason or another. 

One day while playing with my daughters, my AICD shocked me.  I went to the hospital, and that is when the doctors and I decided it was time for me to have a heart transplant and stop putting my family through the heartache of not knowing whether I would live from day to day.

My doctors referred me to University of Cincinnati Hospital for my heart transplant.  While they were working me up for the heart transplant, they found that my liver was cirrhosised.  I would then need a liver transplant as well.  I received my heart transplant on July 13, 2006 and my liver transplant on October 6, 2006. 

I am now living well and enjoying the time I have with my family.  I am so thankful for the kindness of the Harvey family and the kindness of one other family.  Organ and tissue donation is the greatest gift any person can give.  Because of it my life has been changed.  Thank you!