Help Adam Get a Life-Saving Heart Transplant

My sister, her husband Adam, and their three children are always giving to others. Now, they need your help. Here is their story -

Help Adam Get a Life-Saving Heart Transplant

Over four years ago, Adam suffered a massive heart attack and was given just a 5% chance of survival. Miraculously, he pulled through, but the damage to his heart was irreparable. Since then, Adam has undergone countless therapies, taken numerous medications, and relied on medical pumps to keep going—but his heart continues to deteriorate.

Two years ago, Adam had to undergo a major procedure to receive an LVAD (left ventricular assist device). Surgeons cracked open his chest to place the device, and now he lives with a tube coming out of his stomach, connected to the pump that keeps his heart beating. He carries over 10 pounds of batteries at all times to power the device.

Even with the LVAD, Adam’s heart failure is worsening, and he urgently needs a transplant. He’s been on the local transplant list for two years, but with only 15 hearts becoming available each year, the chances of receiving one are painfully slim.

This is why we’ve decided to expand Adam’s transplant search to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where over 145 adult heart transplants have already been performed this year. Vanderbilt is confident Adam could receive a heart within 1-200 days, depending on his placement on the list. This gives us hope like never before.

Why We Need Your Help

While insurance covers the procedure itself, it doesn’t account for the enormous costs of travel, lodging, and other necessities. When Vanderbilt calls, we will have to drop everything and travel immediately. Adam will be in the hospital for 2-4 weeks, followed by 8 weeks of recovery in a handicap-accessible hotel near the hospital, requiring a caregiver to stay with him.

Here’s what we’re facing:

When Adam asked, “What will we do if we get the call and don’t have the money to go?” Heidi's answer was simple: "We will go. We’ll figure it out." But the reality is, we need your help to make this possible.

How You Can Help

If you feel led to support Adam’s journey, we would be forever grateful for your donation. Every contribution—big or small—will help us move closer to saving his life. If you aren’t able to donate, we completely understand. Please keep Adam in your prayers and consider sharing this post to help us reach more people.

Why Vanderbilt?

Adam’s situation is unique. Due to antibodies from past blood transfusions, he can only match with 40% of potential hearts. Of those, only a small percentage match his height and weight, and he still needs to be prioritized above others on the list.

Locally, with only 15 transplants a year, the odds are heartbreaking: Adam might match 6 hearts, 2 might meet his criteria, and there are others ahead of him. At Vanderbilt, performing around 150 transplants annually, the chances are much better: 60 potential matches, 20 meeting his criteria, and a faster-moving list. Vanderbilt truly feels like our best—and possibly only—chance to save Adam’s life.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers, donations, and shares. Your support means more to us than words can ever express.

❤️ With gratitude,

The Clarys