Heart disease runs deep in my family. My father, all his brothers—even my own brothers and I—have walked this hard road. I was 36 when I had my first heart attack. That day, Dr. Bacon, with Cape Fear Valley Health, put in three stents and started me on a life I never expected. My brothers had similar struggles: my middle brother had triple bypass surgery in his early 30s, and my younger brother, Robbie, passed away from a heart attack at just 51. 

For years, I lived with a defibrillator pacemaker, which would jolt my heart back to rhythm whenever it slipped. If you’ve never felt that shock, imagine a mule kicking you in the chest. It’s not something you forget. But I got used to the routine: medication, checkups, hope and more than a few close calls. My wife stood by me through all of it, never leaving my side at the hospital or at home.

Last year, my struggle reached a turning point. After catching norovirus and being unable to keep down my medication for several days, my heart simply stopped. If it weren’t for my son, who was working with EMS at the time, I might not be here now. He performed CPR and saved my life before the paramedics arrived, and even then, they had to revive me more than once. I was brought to CFVH and stabilized before being flown to UNC, then transferred to Duke for a heart transplant evaluation. Hearing you need a new heart isn’t easy; for a while, I thought about refusing, wanting to let someone younger have the chance instead. It was my daughter and family who helped me see the importance of fighting on.

At Duke, everything happened fast. I underwent tests and biopsies and was ultimately labeled a status-two candidate for transplant. Just eight days later, I got a call that they had a heart for me. There’s no way to really express what it’s like to receive such a gift: I am a 61-year-old man with a 19-year-old heart. I carry my donor with me every day, and I hope I honor their memory with how I live this second chapter.

Recovery hasn’t been easy, but with the care of remarkable doctors, the love of my wife (who managed my care and even became an organ donor herself) and my faith, I’ve made it through. The biopsies and medications keep me on track, and I’ve met many others on similar journeys. We share our stories wherever we can. I’m convinced it’s important for people to hear what organ donation means, and how it saves lives like mine. 

My gratitude for Cape Fear Valley Health, UNC and Duke runs deep. If it wasn’t for the EMS personnel, doctors and nurses of Cape Fear Valley Health saving my life many times, I would have never had the chance to eventually make it to Duke for my heart transplant and to receive a second chance at life. Their teamwork, care and real compassion have given me not just more time, but a chance to enjoy my family, to tell my story and to encourage others to never give up hope.

Learn more about the services provided by Cape Fear Valley Health at https://www.capefearvalley.com/services/heart-vascular-care.