Heart Transplant 101

Well my dad had his three hour meeting regarding his heart transplant. Because of his blood type his wait could be one week up to three years. He will receive a pager, and will have to be able to get to the hospital within a certain amount of time, if he is out of town or will be unable to make it within that time, he will get passed up.

There are different levels of "needs" as well. Level one is an individual who is in the hospital being kept alive by a machine, and this is their one and only chance, level two is a step down and is the category in which he falls into.

They also of course went over the "what ifs" as well, but we aren't going to focus on those.

Did you know that in 2,125 heart transplants were done in 2005? In the United States, 72.4 percent of heart transplant patients are male; 70.0 percent are white; 19.1 percent are ages 35-49 and 45.0 percent are ages 50-64 (Taken from American Heart.org).

We are very fortunate that he lives where one of the best Heart Hospitals in the United States is, so we aren't concerned with that. His cardiologist is number two or three in the United States as well. My dad doesn't discuss emotions, or feelings so it is hard to say what he is thinking right now, and to be honest I don't know how I feel either.

I have never known anyone to have this type of major surgery before, sure I have known someone who needed a bone marrow transplant and even a kidney, but never a heart. This is a whole new world for hubby and I both.

Last night hubby and I were talking and I feel selfish for hoping he gets one sooner rather than later, because I know that his survival is because someone else died. While our family will be weaping with joy, another family will be weaping. While we rejoice in his new life someone will be rejoicing for the life that has passed.

I have already made (yes the o.c.d. part of me) arrangements for childcare should the need arise, because we are blessed to know SEVERAL people there as well. Claire knows grandpa has a "sad" heart as she calls it, and we decided to tell her that he would be getting a new one, to which she says will be his "happy" heart. She also "knows" that someone else will be giving it to him, though I don't think she fully understands what that means.

My eyes fill with tears because hubby and I have begun praying for the family that will make this sacrifice, I just hope that one day they will know what a blessing they were to my dad, his wife, my sister and I, and my children and they are comforted with that knowledge.

People always talk about being a donor, but it isn't something people like to think or even talk about. I have a friend who was in medical school and he learned to become a doctor thru families who made that choice, medical advances wouldn't be made without donors, and my dad wont live to see his grandchildren to reach adolescence unless someone donates. I encourage everyone to think, talk, and pray about being a donor.