David Guidry Got A New Heart!
Donation protected
David has received a new heart!!!! On November 19, 2015, David Guidry (see his story below) received a donated heart. Follow us as we make the journey through Life with a Heart Transplant.
Here’s the story:
David Guidry, beloved husband, father and ex-manager, is seriously ill with Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (aka Heart Failure).
Over the last four plus years, David's health has slowly declined. He suffered two heart attacks in 2011, was declared permanently disabled. He had to step down from the job he loved deeply.
David's health declined once again in January. We talked about giving him an LVAD (Left Ventricle Assist Device). On April 17, 2015 of this year one was implanted into David’s heart. To do so, he required open heart surgery.
Sadly, David suffered many complications from his LVAD. His right ventricle was more damaged than expected and his heart could not pump enough oxygenated body to properly feed the body. He spent 105 days at WFBMC here in Winston-Salem, NC. That event has cost us dearly in more ways than money.
In July, I became unemployed. I have yet to find work, though I seek and search every day. Currently, both of us are out of work and we are trying to live off the disability income alone. As I was the major bread winner, you can imagine how well that is going.
We prayed he would be listed on the National Waiting List for a heart transplant. Many complications delayed his progress. Finally his was listed as 1B, then 1A almost immediately. Within a week our prayers we answered.
A 42 year old woman was killed in a car accident in Georgia. Her heart was a perfect match. On November 19, 2015, David received his new heart.
Less than 2 weeks later, David was out of the hospital and home. His heart disease was gone. Well… almost.
On Friday, December 18th, David received a call to return to the hospital. His morning biopsy showed signs of rejection. He was admitted and is undergoing a series of strong steroids to help fight the rejection.
Many transplant recipients will experience rejection in the first year in various degrees. Weekly biopsies help monitor the heart’s progress. Soon they will become bi-weekly, then monthly, then as needed. The first year looks like it is going to be pretty interesting.
We cannot express our gratitude and love for his medical team in the Heart Failure Clinic at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. They are the most amazing people we have ever met. Dr. Barbara Pisani, DO is a force that cannot be reckoned with and woman I never want to cross!
The funds raised thus far are depleting quickly. In 2016, more deductibles and "out-of-pocket" expenses will come as they reset for a new year. Compounding events have put us in trouble.
Any help you can give is deeply appreciated. I am desperately trying to stay in our home in Winston-Salem, keep it warm and stock with necessities until I can find work so David can accept that precious gift of life - a new heart.
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A heart transplant is bitter sweet.
In order for someone to receive a strong, healthy heart, another family must suffer a sudden tragedy. A loved one, most likely young and fit, will die in a sudden, unexpected manner.
The guilt one carries knowing this is nearly unbearable. I pray for the family that will have to experience this loss and hope that maybe one day they can see that their loved one did something incredible after their last breath. And maybe one day... I can accept that as well.
If anything, please take this time to consider organ donation.
Click HERE to register to be an organ donor.
(ILLUSTRATIONS BY INKA RASCH “Don’t take your organs to heaven because heaven knows we need them here.” Painted with crayons and markers.)
GoFundMe is a great tool for sharing updates in one easy to use app and can be easliy followed by Facebook, Twitter or email notifications. As retelling the details over and over again wears on one's psyche, I am turning to this tool for my own sanity. Please follow us. You do not have to donate to follow.
Here’s the story:
David Guidry, beloved husband, father and ex-manager, is seriously ill with Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (aka Heart Failure).
Over the last four plus years, David's health has slowly declined. He suffered two heart attacks in 2011, was declared permanently disabled. He had to step down from the job he loved deeply.
David's health declined once again in January. We talked about giving him an LVAD (Left Ventricle Assist Device). On April 17, 2015 of this year one was implanted into David’s heart. To do so, he required open heart surgery.
Sadly, David suffered many complications from his LVAD. His right ventricle was more damaged than expected and his heart could not pump enough oxygenated body to properly feed the body. He spent 105 days at WFBMC here in Winston-Salem, NC. That event has cost us dearly in more ways than money.
In July, I became unemployed. I have yet to find work, though I seek and search every day. Currently, both of us are out of work and we are trying to live off the disability income alone. As I was the major bread winner, you can imagine how well that is going.
We prayed he would be listed on the National Waiting List for a heart transplant. Many complications delayed his progress. Finally his was listed as 1B, then 1A almost immediately. Within a week our prayers we answered.
A 42 year old woman was killed in a car accident in Georgia. Her heart was a perfect match. On November 19, 2015, David received his new heart.
Less than 2 weeks later, David was out of the hospital and home. His heart disease was gone. Well… almost.
On Friday, December 18th, David received a call to return to the hospital. His morning biopsy showed signs of rejection. He was admitted and is undergoing a series of strong steroids to help fight the rejection.
Many transplant recipients will experience rejection in the first year in various degrees. Weekly biopsies help monitor the heart’s progress. Soon they will become bi-weekly, then monthly, then as needed. The first year looks like it is going to be pretty interesting.
We cannot express our gratitude and love for his medical team in the Heart Failure Clinic at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. They are the most amazing people we have ever met. Dr. Barbara Pisani, DO is a force that cannot be reckoned with and woman I never want to cross!
The funds raised thus far are depleting quickly. In 2016, more deductibles and "out-of-pocket" expenses will come as they reset for a new year. Compounding events have put us in trouble.
Any help you can give is deeply appreciated. I am desperately trying to stay in our home in Winston-Salem, keep it warm and stock with necessities until I can find work so David can accept that precious gift of life - a new heart.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- *
A heart transplant is bitter sweet.
In order for someone to receive a strong, healthy heart, another family must suffer a sudden tragedy. A loved one, most likely young and fit, will die in a sudden, unexpected manner.
The guilt one carries knowing this is nearly unbearable. I pray for the family that will have to experience this loss and hope that maybe one day they can see that their loved one did something incredible after their last breath. And maybe one day... I can accept that as well.
If anything, please take this time to consider organ donation.
Click HERE to register to be an organ donor.
(ILLUSTRATIONS BY INKA RASCH “Don’t take your organs to heaven because heaven knows we need them here.” Painted with crayons and markers.)
GoFundMe is a great tool for sharing updates in one easy to use app and can be easliy followed by Facebook, Twitter or email notifications. As retelling the details over and over again wears on one's psyche, I am turning to this tool for my own sanity. Please follow us. You do not have to donate to follow.
Organiser
Jennifer Neeley Guidry
Organiser
Winston-Salem, NC
