Lee's Fund for Heart Transplant
Hi: My name is Lee F. Worbington from Navasota, Texas. I am a Veteran, having served in the Army, between Vietnam and the Gulf War, as a Cavalry Scout, in the US and overseas, and s an MP on domestic soil. On Nov. 26, 2014, I suffered my first of several heart attacks It is now 2017, and I received the Gift of Life, a heart transplant, in January of this year. Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and I hope you find me worthy of a donatin.
Here I am in the emergency room in Navasota, just before I went critical and had to be transported to St. Joseph's in Bryan. Memory from that point until I "woke up" is zero, as I was unconscious or on too much medication for 6 1/2 of 7 1/2 weeks spent in the hospital. I was not expected to survive the first week but somehow I did. With exceptional medical care and the love of my Lady (Jody Baldwin Rogers), whom I refer to as My Angel Without Wings, friends and family I pulled through.
Here I am on my last day in hospital, Jan. 12, 2015. Heck of a way to lose 40 lbs!
Jody and I when we got the word that I was accepted for transplant evaluation on April 2, 2015 . Do believe me when I say that because of my Lady Jody and the score of wonderful medical men & women personel that I have come to know, I have plenty of reasons to smile about". Jody I LOVE YOU!
As an Army Veteran, having proudly served in the 4th Cavalry and 5th Military Police, I am fortunate to have been accepted into the VA heart transplant program. I was surgically implanted with an LVAD (Left Ventrical Assistance Device), a fancy name for a mechanical/ electrical heart pump on April 27, 2015 
Post LVAD surgery
This device helped my heart move the blood around, until I was called in for the actual transplant. An LVAD is a miraculous device, but I had very limited endurance and was unable to work.
I was most fortunate to be called to await my heart transplant in July 2016. In September, I was diagnosed with a brain bleed, which caused a mild stroke. I had surgery to repair the bleed in October, and was in hospital for 3 weeks with several complications. I was cleared again for transplant just after Christmas.
Check out all those tubes....so many supportive medications!!
I received the Gift of Life on January 27, 2017, 21 months to the day from receiving the LVAD. Words cannot express my tremendous gratitude to the donor and his family. Recovery has been difficult, and I had 2 rejection episodes between the surgery and mid June, requiring me to stay in Utah longer than expected. I am now being treated for an even more severe rejection, which was diagnosed on Oct. 16, and it has left us both unsure of the future. Without Jody's love and the support of the heart transplant "family" that I have come to know and love, I would find it difficult to face each new day!
Several bills from my stay at St. Joseph's hospital have remained unpaid - including the Life Flight helicopter (now lower thanks to the VA!). I also have copayments due on current medications. Fortunately, the VA provides housing while I am in Salt Lake. However, I won't be working for at least a year post transplant, perhaps longer, or only light work, rather than my former work as a truck driver, which I loved. I (and my lady Jody) still have personal expenses to take care of. Jody has her business, The Engraving Spot, set up here in the hotel room and has been working temp jobs to make ends meet. Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated.
Simply put, it means LIFE for me and the way I intend to pay it forward is by becoming an organ donor myself, so that some other persons may be given the ultimate gift of life (aside from my heart, the rest of me is in relatively good shape). This is the best way I know to thank everyone who donates to my cause.
This is a beautiful memorial park in Salt Lake City, where the surgery was done, dedicated to local organ donors. A glass wall is engraved each year with their names.
