Help Graham Get a New Heart

It's not common for a 35-year-old to need a heart transplant — but that's exactly the case for my best friend, Graham Burns. I worked with Graham and his family to capture his story and we're starting this fundraiser to help his family cover all of the costs associated with his procedure.

Graham was born with a rare, congenital heart defect called transposition of the great arteries (TGA) where the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed. He had multiple procedures to correct this defect as a baby, including open-heart surgery as a 5-month-old that rerouted his heart so it pumps backward.

While that fixed the issue at the time, nobody's heart is meant to operate like that forever. Over the last 30 years, his heart has slowly weakened. He needed a pacemaker and defibrillator with experimental stints at the age of 27; was diagnosed with congestive heart failure at 32 and now needs a heart transplant in order to survive.

After two major hospitals turned down his case due to the rarity and complexity of his condition, he met with the team at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Except for his heart, Graham is very healthy and the team at Vanderbilt is very confident about finding him a match quickly and his long-term prognosis.

That doesn't mean a heart transplant is easy — physically or mentally. Because of the structure of his heart, past surgeries, and his anatomy, what would normally take 6-8 hours will be a 13-14 hour procedure for Graham.

The long road to recovery starts with 3 to 4 weeks in the hospital, followed by 6-12 weeks of rehabilitation in Nashville. After the initial recovery, he'll need to travel back to Nashville for checkups every 4 to 6 weeks to make sure his body doesn't reject his new heart and will be on anti-rejection medications for the rest of his life.

If you've had the privilege of knowing Graham, you know he's easygoing, humble, and generous and he has an encyclopedic knowledge of the Simpsons. His wife Brittany keeps him in line and he'd do anything for her and his 7-year-old twin girls Maddie and Chloe.

He's dealt with his condition for so long that he had a hard time answering when I asked what he was most looking forward to after his operation. What seems mundane to the rest of us will be life-giving to Graham — running around with his girls, mowing the lawn, or getting in a round of golf without feeling like he's going to pass out.

For a long time, he couldn't even look past the transplant. He never thought his life would extend past his 30s or 40s. He planned for retirement but never thought he'd see it.

This new heart is a fresh start for Graham and his family — a life without the cloud of fear and anxiety that comes with his failing heart. We're raising support to help cover out-of-pocket medical costs, medications, housing in Nashville, travel expenses, and any other essentials so Graham can focus on his recovery. All funds raised will go directly to the Burns family to help cover these expenses.

There are three ways you can support:

Pray

Pray for wisdom and favor with his care team. Pray for a quick donor match, a flawless procedure, and a smooth recovery. Pray that his marriage would be strong and for the mental health of their whole family during this time. We've already seen God move in an incredible way and we're praying that will continue.

Donate

Despite their insurance coverage, healthcare costs are substantial. Graham will also be out of work for an extended period while he recovers. Any amount you can donate will be a significant help and greatly appreciated.

Share

There are a lot of people that love Graham and his family. Please tell everyone you know about him. Share his story with your networks and help us rally around the Burns family with the support they need.