Have A Heart: John Welch's Journey to a New Heart
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John Taylor Welch needs a new heart, and he is ready to fight as if his life depends on it—because it does!
His journey began 26 years ago at the tender age of 8 when he was diagnosed with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, a hereditary heart disease in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, making it harder for the heart to pump blood. His case is unique. After gene studies were completed on his entire family, the results showed that John received the defective gene from both of his parents, which is very rare and likely why his case has been so severe in comparison to other family members. And now, his heart can no longer sustain him, and he is anxiously awaiting a new heart. John is just 34 years old.
Of all the medications he is on, John says the one that works the best is LAUGHTER! On August 27, 2020, John asked the love of his life, Kayla Major, to be his wife. Kayla has shown John that there is so much more to life than hospital visits and surgeries. Love and laughter will get them and their family through this. They are ready to spend the rest of their lives together and are looking forward to getting married in December 2021.
He is ready to fight for his right to live. To exist. To survive this. And to celebrate his Independence Day! (He is also a fan of the 1996 movie, Independence Day.) So, in John’s own words, “LET’S KICK THE TIRES AND LIGHT THE FIRES, BIG DADDY!”
The History of His Fight
When John was 15, he underwent a septal myectomy at the Mayo Clinic, an open-heart surgery that decreases the symptoms of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. It worked for a while, but 12 years later in 2014, John noticed he was having abnormal fatigue. Tests revealed he had a mitral valve prolapse, and he underwent mechanical mitral valve replacement surgery in Asheville, NC. After this surgery, he had severe complications from cardiogenic shock and was immediately transferred to Duke Heart Center in Durham, NC where they saved his life. After weeks in the ICU overcoming traumatic complications, John remarkably recovered.
In February 2020, John noticed the familiar fatigue had returned. He was not able to climb a flight of stairs without being completely exhausted. So, John headed back to his doctors at Duke for more testing, which revealed that his medications were no longer working the way his heart needed them to. He was put on more meds with an IV at home.
After months of doctor appointments during the Covid-19 pandemic, on October 14, 2020, John was officially accepted and listed on the United Network for Organ Sharing for a heart transplant. On October 22, John was admitted to Duke. Since then he has undergone a series of pre-op procedures. On October 29, John received an IABP pump which is a “bridge to transplant” heart pump. Unless he gets a heart soon, John will be put on a more permanent heart pump and will remain in the CCU until he receives his heart transplant. The call could come any minute. Until then, he is bravely waiting for the gift of a new life.
How You Can Help
John is READY TO FIGHT!!! He was born in Vicksburg, MS in 1986. He is the son of Kimberly (McGuffie) and Vernon Welch and the grandson of John and Jimmie McGuffie, Buddy and Joanne Welch, and Joyce Welch of Vicksburg. If you knew his grandfather, John McGuffie, then you know John Taylor.
John has not been able to work since August 2020. Thankfully, most of John’s medical costs are covered by his insurance. One thing our family does not want is for John and his caregivers to be burdened with financial stress. His family lives 3.5 hours away from Duke, so as of last week, they are all staying in a hotel close to Duke awaiting the call.
Due to Covid-19, only one person can be at the hospital with John. It is a scary process for them all, but they are choosing to be positive and extremely thankful for this GIFT OF LIFE he will receive.
We are creating this Go Fund Me page for those who find themselves able to help his family during this time. We understand so many peoples’ lives and incomes have changed this year due to the global pandemic. We are asking only, if you can, to donate what you can—any amount is appreciated—so that his family does not have to worry about long-term hotel costs, gas, travel, food, and household bills that don’t stop coming when you are unable to work. Due to Covid-19, John will not be released to work for at least a year.
We do know that after he receives his new heart that he will remain in the ICU for at least two weeks and will need to stay in Durham, NC for two weeks after discharge. After that, he will be required to travel to Duke every week for 3 months for a biopsy of his new heart to check for rejection. Depending on those results, they will gradually move his appointment to once every 2 weeks, then every 6 months, for the rest of his life.
If you are able to contribute to his family in any way, they will be eternally grateful.
“A need noticed is an assignment given.”
Love,
Kellye McGuffie Carlisle and Jennifer McGuffie Walker
His journey began 26 years ago at the tender age of 8 when he was diagnosed with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, a hereditary heart disease in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, making it harder for the heart to pump blood. His case is unique. After gene studies were completed on his entire family, the results showed that John received the defective gene from both of his parents, which is very rare and likely why his case has been so severe in comparison to other family members. And now, his heart can no longer sustain him, and he is anxiously awaiting a new heart. John is just 34 years old.
Of all the medications he is on, John says the one that works the best is LAUGHTER! On August 27, 2020, John asked the love of his life, Kayla Major, to be his wife. Kayla has shown John that there is so much more to life than hospital visits and surgeries. Love and laughter will get them and their family through this. They are ready to spend the rest of their lives together and are looking forward to getting married in December 2021.
He is ready to fight for his right to live. To exist. To survive this. And to celebrate his Independence Day! (He is also a fan of the 1996 movie, Independence Day.) So, in John’s own words, “LET’S KICK THE TIRES AND LIGHT THE FIRES, BIG DADDY!”
The History of His Fight
When John was 15, he underwent a septal myectomy at the Mayo Clinic, an open-heart surgery that decreases the symptoms of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. It worked for a while, but 12 years later in 2014, John noticed he was having abnormal fatigue. Tests revealed he had a mitral valve prolapse, and he underwent mechanical mitral valve replacement surgery in Asheville, NC. After this surgery, he had severe complications from cardiogenic shock and was immediately transferred to Duke Heart Center in Durham, NC where they saved his life. After weeks in the ICU overcoming traumatic complications, John remarkably recovered.
In February 2020, John noticed the familiar fatigue had returned. He was not able to climb a flight of stairs without being completely exhausted. So, John headed back to his doctors at Duke for more testing, which revealed that his medications were no longer working the way his heart needed them to. He was put on more meds with an IV at home.
After months of doctor appointments during the Covid-19 pandemic, on October 14, 2020, John was officially accepted and listed on the United Network for Organ Sharing for a heart transplant. On October 22, John was admitted to Duke. Since then he has undergone a series of pre-op procedures. On October 29, John received an IABP pump which is a “bridge to transplant” heart pump. Unless he gets a heart soon, John will be put on a more permanent heart pump and will remain in the CCU until he receives his heart transplant. The call could come any minute. Until then, he is bravely waiting for the gift of a new life.
How You Can Help
John is READY TO FIGHT!!! He was born in Vicksburg, MS in 1986. He is the son of Kimberly (McGuffie) and Vernon Welch and the grandson of John and Jimmie McGuffie, Buddy and Joanne Welch, and Joyce Welch of Vicksburg. If you knew his grandfather, John McGuffie, then you know John Taylor.
John has not been able to work since August 2020. Thankfully, most of John’s medical costs are covered by his insurance. One thing our family does not want is for John and his caregivers to be burdened with financial stress. His family lives 3.5 hours away from Duke, so as of last week, they are all staying in a hotel close to Duke awaiting the call.
Due to Covid-19, only one person can be at the hospital with John. It is a scary process for them all, but they are choosing to be positive and extremely thankful for this GIFT OF LIFE he will receive.
We are creating this Go Fund Me page for those who find themselves able to help his family during this time. We understand so many peoples’ lives and incomes have changed this year due to the global pandemic. We are asking only, if you can, to donate what you can—any amount is appreciated—so that his family does not have to worry about long-term hotel costs, gas, travel, food, and household bills that don’t stop coming when you are unable to work. Due to Covid-19, John will not be released to work for at least a year.
We do know that after he receives his new heart that he will remain in the ICU for at least two weeks and will need to stay in Durham, NC for two weeks after discharge. After that, he will be required to travel to Duke every week for 3 months for a biopsy of his new heart to check for rejection. Depending on those results, they will gradually move his appointment to once every 2 weeks, then every 6 months, for the rest of his life.
If you are able to contribute to his family in any way, they will be eternally grateful.
“A need noticed is an assignment given.”
Love,
Kellye McGuffie Carlisle and Jennifer McGuffie Walker
Organizer and beneficiary
Kellye McGuffie - Carlisle
Organizer
Asheville, NC
Kim Welch
Beneficiary