Donate for Caltrider's Lifesaving Heart Transplant

Most of you are aware, at least in some context, of my dad’s health journey over the last 10 years. This month, however, we’ve turned a sharp corner. Dad has been added to the heart transplant list and has been admitted indefinitely to the ICU at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Dad will remain in the ICU until a donor heart is found and he has his transplant, and then he will be moved to outpatient care for recovery. At this time, we do not know how long he will remain at Mayo Clinic, but we anticipate it will be several months.

In my 36 years of life, I have never once heard this man ask for help. I’ve grown up watching him put others’ needs before his own over and over again. He served as a sheriff for 30 years with pride and loved every minute of it. He is a loyal and loving father, grandfather, and husband. He will do anything for anyone and expect nothing in return.

My mom will be staying with him at Mayo Clinic, temporarily pausing the in-home daycare services she’s offered for 30+ years, in order to be by his side every step of the way–as she has been through his health journey and through their marriage of 40 years. For my parents, this will be a marathon, not a sprint, and my siblings and I are looking to support them in any and every way we can.

We sincerely appreciate your thoughts, your prayers, and your love as we navigate this difficult time, and I know my parents do too.