Help Grant with Expenses After Heart Transplant

This is a story of hope, love, and perseverance. Grant Ignatius, a Rochester, MN native, has always been surrounded by the best people. Grant's parents, Kim and Dale, raised Grant and his sister, Ashley, to see the best in people and to never give up. Sports, baseball, in particular, have always been important to Grant. Grant’s baseball abilities offered him the opportunity to play in college. It was on the field nearly 12 years ago when Grant’s life changed forever. He suffered a cardiac arrest during a game and was rushed to St. Mary’s Hospital at Mayo Clinic where the staff saved his life. Grant was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and an underlying arrhythmia, a serious condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and weak, in addition, it cannot regulate the speed and strength of its rhythm. Since then, Grant has maintained strict regimens, undergone extensive testing, and endured countless procedures to manage his condition. In January of 2022, Grant experienced a serious episode of ventricular tachycardia, an abnormal and dangerous heart rhythm. This set into motion the journey to a new heart when Grant was placed on the transplant list on February 1st, 2022. March 4, 2022, through the selflessness of an unknown organ donor, Grant received a heart transplant at Mayo Clinic.

Grant, together with his wife, Brittany, reside in Rochester, MN where they are raising their young family. Bricelyn (11) and Palmer (8 months) are the light of their lives. Grant and Brittany are a fierce team and a tremendous couple. Their resilience throughout this journey has been remarkable. Grant currently works in operations for the hospice program at Mayo Clinic and Brittany is a behavior coach for special education teachers and their students with developmental disabilities.

The transition to post-transplant life is a long and financially burdensome one. Both Grant and Brittany have had to take extensive time off, using all fully paid leave options available to them. Many people have asked how to support them in this challenging time. They always welcome a note of encouragement on Grant’s CaringBridge!

This GoFundMe has been created by Grant & Brittany’s friends and family for those of you that would like to help alleviate some of the financial pressures they are faced with. Your contribution will help Grant and Brittany as they navigate their future.

On behalf of Grant and Brittany, thank you to everyone that has called, texted, prayed, and sent well wishes. You all mean the world to the Ignatius family.

A special thank you to the donor family. We mourn the loss of your loved one. Please know this heart will be cherished by many. Thank you for offering Grant the chance to live his life to the fullest potential.

Please consider organ donation. For information on how to become a donor, please visit https://www.organdonor.gov/sign-up.