Dustin’s Heart Journey and Recovery

When Dustin was a toddler he was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma and received life-saving Cancer treatment that unknowingly caused extreme damage to his heart. He learned as a young adult back in 2014, that he has acute on chronic combined systolic/diastolic congestive heart failure, and has suffered a heart attack at only the age of 30. During this point of his life he was not a candidate for a transplant due to a variety of factors. Dustin took that life-altering news and buckled down making HUGE life changes in order to get healthy, including losing 80 pounds. It seemed that his heart was getting stronger, and all was going great until he woke up Christmas day feeling weak and sick. He was soon admitted into the hospital with low blood pressure, low Potassium and fluid accumulation around his heart and in his lungs. After some tests were run Dustin’s cardiologist told him that his heart function had declined rapidly in a short period of time  and it looked like he could have just a few weeks/months left of life with his heart diagnosis. 

Luckily Dustin has people who love him dearly, and he has a plan in process! He will be meeting with the University of Iowa heart failure/ transplant team this week, but he needs our help. One of the requirements to even be placed on the transplant list is a secure financial plan for post-transplant care which includes anti-rejection meds, PT/OT and home care. Depending on the course of action the team decides to take he could have a bridge LVAD surgery which would require him to have extra expenses and equipment. At the very least he will encounter deductibles, copays, and other incidentals. He will also need transportation and living expenses. 



Dustin is a father to THREE beautiful children, Dominick (11), Ryder (9)and Aubrey(1) who need him so much. He is a son, a brother, an Uncle, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin and a friend to so many. He is a baseball coach, and always gives so much for the boys on his team. He is hilarious, fun, caring, loving, passionate and so strong. He has already conquered so much in his life, but we all need him here a lot longer. Dustin is going to need our help to make it through this, and our generosity can ease many extra hardships during this time.

Although he needs a new heart, he has always and will always have a heart of pure gold

Let's all rally and get Dustin a new heart!!!

#TeamBachman