I suffered congestive heart failure in 1990 at the age of 22 years old. My diagnosis was cardiomyopathy, which is a disease of the heart muscle. My heart was enlarged and weak, unable to effective provide blood to the rest of my body. The possibility of a heart transplant was discussed as the likely course of action if my condition worsened. Thankfully, my condition improved.
The cardiomyopathy was well-managed by medications and regular testing for a decade. Since I had been in atrial fibrillation since my diagnosis, two attempts to cardiovert my heart back to sinus rhythm were made. They were unsuccessful. During that time, I was able to fulfill several important goals - get married, have children, graduate from seminary, and assume my first pastorate.
A defibrillator/pacemaker was implanted in August of 2001, one month after my youngest daughter, Rachel, was born. I had experienced many episodes of tachycardia, including ventricular fibrillation on two occasions. Having a defibrillator is a blessing and a curse. It is able to save your life through shocking your heart out of a potentially fatal arrhythmia, but the shock is like being kicked in the chest by a “mad bull!” The most traumatic experience I had with my defibrillator was being shocked sixteen times in a row, while taking a walk.
In 2003, my ejection fraction plummeted, and I underwent open heart surgery at Duke University Medical Center for mitral valve repair. A device called a “corcap,” a form of netting, was also sewn around my heart, as part of a clinical trial in which I had enrolled. Its goal was to prevent my heart from enlarging further, and also reshape the heart.
That surgery was successful, and I fared well for about eighteen months. Yet, fifteen years of living with cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation had taken its toll. I had deteriorated to the point that a heart transplant was the only option. On June 9, 2005, I was placed on the waiting list to receive a new heart.
I was still able to work as a pastor at Six Forks Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC, during this time. However, it was very difficult and my effectiveness had diminished. It had gotten to where I was struggling to even go up and down my driveway to retrieve the mail.
On July 25, I received my new heart at Duke Hospital in Durham, NC. My transplant was performed by Dr. Carmelo Milano, who also conducted my mitral valve repair in 2003. I was discharged after sixteen days in the hospital. The Transplant Team at Duke has done a tremendous job of caring for all my needs and guarding my health.
It has been an awesome privilege and gift to resume activities I had been unable to perform for many years. What I am most excited about it swimming, and I eagerly anticipate the 2008 Transplant Games!
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