Heart Transplant

Some of you may remember me even though I have not been on here in quite a while. I just wanted to update you on what has been going on with me.

On Dec 4th, I got the call that a new heart was available for me. I had the surgery and many many complications came along with it. I was in ICU for 2 months and in the hospital for a total of 2 1/2 months. I didn't even know it was Christmas! I have been home now for several weeks and getting physical therapy twice a week and I am feeling better and better with each day. I am so lucky and blessed to be here!

I don't have a pacemaker anymore but I had a couple of temporary pacemakers while I was in the hospital. I didn't even know there was such a thing.
Cathy

7 Comments

Wonderful News

by Grateful Heart - 2014-03-14 09:03:33

So good to hear from you, I was thinking about you. Sounds like you have been through some ordeal with all the complications, sorry to hear that. I hope you are on your way to full recovery now.

Prayers for you, your family and the donor and their family.

Try and keep in touch if you are up to it.

Grateful Heart

new heart

by judyblue - 2014-03-15 04:03:40

Blessings to your new heart Cathy! I wish you well, and hope you continue to post now that you are "post pacemaker". I have never talked to someone who no longer needs a pacemaker. I have read how difficult transplant recovery is, and am glad you appear on the other side of that difficulty. best to you.
judy

WooHoo Cathy !!............

by Tattoo Man - 2014-03-15 08:03:24


.................fantastic news ! its a joy to add my best wishes to the other guys here..

Keep us posted and don't think that not having a PM bars you from staying a member of the Best Club in The World !!!

Tattoo Man

New Member

by Chase - 2014-03-15 12:03:11

I am new to the club. I can't imagine what you have been going through. Thank you for sharing. Chase

Glad you let us know.

by jeanlancour - 2014-03-15 12:03:50

So good to know things are looking up. This club is kind of like a big loose family, when we haven't heard anything for a time, we get this kind of a hum....when we hear from the missing one again its a warm feeling. Thank you for sharing. Prayers for you and your family. Jean

Great News

by jane32 - 2014-03-17 05:03:19

So glad to hear from you again. What an emotional and physical roller coaster you have been on, good to hear you are home and on the road to recovery. Best wishes for your continued recovery.

That's Fantastic!!!

by HeartOfBrick - 2014-03-17 11:03:38

Hi Cathy,

I’ve never reached out to you before, but I have followed your story. I knew you were going to come out of this just fine because of your attitude.

I was actually thinking of you over the last several months because I hadn’t seen any of your postings. I hoped for the best and prayed that you were recovering. Happy to hear you are back at home.

I literally just read an article about Cedar Sinai (I believe you are in California) performing a record breaking 119 heart transplants in 2013.

I have some positive news that I’d like to share with you. The life expectancy of heart transplant recipients is climbing every year because of new technology and medicines. It is not unusual for people to live well over 20 years. My neighbor who is an NFL pro football player has a young daughter (I’m talking under 5 years old) who had a heart transplant and she is doing wonderful. There you go-many, many, many years for you to live a full life.

Besides, I predict that within 10 years from now they will be installing artificial hearts (such as the Carmat Artificial Heart) the way they do pacemakers now. The technology is advancing that quickly and the need so great.

Best Wishes,

Joe

You know you're wired when...

Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.

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