Calvin "Doug" Fain Heart Transplant

Calvin "Doug" Fain, from Frewsburg NY, has been on the heart transplant list for over four years now through Cleveland Clinic.  As he and his family have waited and prayed, they have found struggle in getting the right heart for him because there is a lot of competition due to his blood type O negative.  He has had 2 open heart surgeries, has 14 stents in two arteries, and the only functioning artery open is from a bypass he had in 1993.  He has had hundreds of heart caths and too many other surgeries to list.  Getting a new heart is critical at this point.  He has had a L-VAD (left ventricle assistive device) for 2 and a half years that mechanically pumps his heart, and most people who have this device average having it for only 6-12 months or so. 

Doug is already a walking miracle to those that know him.  Although his heart may not function well physically, it is SO big and he remains active and is a blessing to so many people in the community.  He retired from the Air Force as a loadmaster for the C141 aircraft and has since volunteered at the DAV, and Amvets, and Frewsburg Legion regularly.

Recently, God has presented the opportunity for Doug, Kelly, and their daughter Erika to go to Dallas, Texas to Baylor University where his chances of receiving a heart transplant are much greater than they have been at Cleveland Clinic.  They are able to perform twice as many transplants at this location than in Cleveland.  Of course, traveling and living expenses are not cheap and Doug and Kelly will be staying in Dallas indefinitely until (GOD WILLING!) Doug receives a heart.  The original plan was to go to Dallas temporarily to apply and hopefully qualify to be on the list there, but once they arrived they were strongly encouraged not to leave as he will be accepted onto the transplant list quickly. There is a cost per day to stay down there in the transplant recipient housing, and it could be weeks to months that Doug and Kelly need to remain there in Dallas until a heart becomes available.  Erika has flown back home to take care of the animals, the house, and start her new job as an OT, but will need to fly back and forth as needed. 

Baylor University did 5 heart transplants last week and 102 transplants last year.  Baylor says they are lucky to keep 10 people on their list at any time so our HOPES ARE BIG but so are the financial costs.  It costs almost a million dollars for the heart transplant and Doug will have to stay in Dallas for at least 6-8 weeks after the transplant for recovery. 

This is a strong family, not only in their ability to wait for God's timing, but strong in faith, loyalty, and always looking outside of themselves to help their family and friends despite their own struggles.  Let's show them support and thanks for always being there for their family, friends, community, and help them with expenses that they will accumulate through the next several months to come.  Even after Doug does receive a new heart, the expenses will likely continue to roll in as he recovers.  To put it lightly, a LOT of money has already been spent in hundreds of trips to and from Cleveland, and now Dallas is a whole new ballgame. 

If you feel it in your heart to give, please contribute to this fund financially to help support this wonderful family.  If you can't contribute financially at this time, please send prayers to God for Doug and his family, for a heart to come soon, and PLEASE consider becoming an organ donor.


This fund was set up by friends and family of Doug and Kelly Fain and all proceeds will go directly to the family for traveling and living expenses associated with Doug's medical condition and procedures.