I Survived The Heart & Double Lung Transplant & Gave My Heart To Another!!!

April 1st 1988, my first day with new chance of living and maybe be fairly healthy. Interestingly many would remember this day as April fools day but for us this happened to be Good Friday and thus ultimately being a wonderful starting over point for our family and prayerfully a long much easier going life for the boys and Renee and I together..

Before this transplant I had been through a few surgeries and each was surprisingly tough in their own circumstance so I must say, No surgery is easy! If a person doesn’t really need it, please do the research first!

Someone once asked, “after so many surgeries are you used to it”? To be honest after over many, to many surgeries both big and small I believe I’m more and more reluctant to climb on that table! A lot of things can happen that cannot be planned for. Of course when I need help I do what needs to be done including prayer first followed by 1st & 2nd opinions and sometimes even 3rd opinions. It’s not about being scared, nervous or even panic, it’s about trust and being the best educated for the situation.

As far as recovery for me from day one I have pushed myself, well maybe starting on day 2 to be honest. Tough fight of feeling weak, fair amount of pain and pushing even when I feel like I couldn’t! Especially then! My rehab nurse knew all the tricks and I couldn’t pull any wool over her eyes….

Day 7 and some guy came up to the outside sealed glass and knocked and gave the thumbs up with a huge smile. I asked Renee who in the world was this guy? She replied “ that’s Jerry the guy who received your heart” ! Wow, God is good!!!

Renee was with me everyday, like she always is! Good days or bad days she is my strength. Always a smile and always the encourager! Finally day 14 came and so did the boys into my room for a visit! The docs allowed it believing I was past the super suppressed from the meds. I truly felt I was soon headed home and 12 days later I was home.

It was a total of 21 days in intensive care and another 5 days on the the main floor, my new heart and lungs, I felt brand new! Very few limits and nothing but stronger and stronger each day!

Our prayers were answered, everything and more 10 times over!

North Star ski Resort 7 months after Transplant