A True Story Of A Young Man With A New Heart

A 20-year-old young man, Richard (not his real name) considered he was given a very special present – a new heart a new life, when he underwent a successful heart transplantation operation on New Year’s Eve of the year of 2004.

When he was 16, he suffered his first heart attack when he felt his heart beating abnormally fast and his chest tighten in pain. 3 more heart attacks were triggered when he was sent to hospital. He was diagnosed with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and ventricular tachycardia. He was a rare case of genetic heart disease.

An Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (AICD) was implanted in his chest which will be triggered to electric-shock his heart back to normal rhythm in the event of a heart attack. This little mechanical device saved his life many times in the next 4 years.

Physically, he was not like before. He tired easily with weight reduced drastically. Though he could continue his college study, his heart was dying. Shortly after suffering a serious heart attack triggered by a bout of fever in 2003, he had 2 more attacks. He was hospitalized twice in a week. 6 months later, his legs were swelled and he was again hospitalized. He was referred to the heart transplant coordinator for a heart transplant because his heart function was then down to 10 percent and a heart transplant was the only way to save him.

He was very depressed and thought he was doomed for sure.

Having too many doubts in his mind, he finally made up his mind to go ahead with the transplant after he saw other heart transplanted patients without recognizing them as one.

Nevertheless, he had to bear a series of frustration, anger, hopelessness especially when his first suitable donor got away due to unforeseen circumstances. To add to his disappointment, the heart of the second donor was too big for him although the blood type and tissue were matched.

On Christmas 2004, he finally got his special gift – a new heart, a new life.

His journey was never alone. The doctors and medical personnel were there trying their best to keep his heart pumping. Most importantly, they kept his spirit up and never let him give up. His parents had to find means to support his huge medical fees.

He just like a normal person although he needs the discipline and willpower to take his medications everyday, go to cardiac rehabilitation every week, and control his diet. He can now engage with outdoor activities like swimming and camping.

He encourages people with heart disease to battle it out and not to let the disease take the heart out of living. Heart problem can happen to both young and old, be it congenital or not. The first step to take care of your heart is aware of your heart health!

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