On August 20, 2020, Josh Hermsen, a close family friend, whom I consider a second son, went in for an annual heart biopsy and was told he would need a third heart transplant. Josh received his first heart transplant at 8 months old and again at 6 years old. 

Unfortunately, Josh’s Coronary arteries are narrowing due to the chronic rejection every organ recipient faces.  In certain cases, the disease is so progressive, there is no other option but to perform another heart transplant.  In August 2020, Josh was informed, the time had come to rejoin the list of many other people waiting for life saving organs.  

About 50% of transplant recipients develop coronary artery disease caused by high cholesterol levels, but research is still being done to understand why.  Josh received a stent in January 2018 to open his right coronary arteries, but unfortunately, it was discovered his left coronary arteries were starting to narrow as well. In 2018 the left artery was about 30% narrowed, but in the last 6 months it has rapidly narrowed to 80%.

Josh is currently 24 years old, patiently waiting for his third miracle at New York Presbyterian - Columbia Hospital in New York City. We are grateful that Josh’s second heart has given him 18 wonderful years, but another heart transplant will leave Josh unable to work up to a year after his surgery. 

Josh graduated from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY in 2018 with a degree in Psychology. 

From 2018 until the Covid-19 outbreak, Josh has worked in Human Resources and Marketing.  Josh was forced to leave his most recent position because of his immunosuppression, a harsh side effect of being a transplant recipient.  In order to keep the body from recognizing the foreign organ, the recipient takes multiple drugs everyday to keep the immune system from rejecting the heart.  Immunosuppression + Covid 19 is a very dangerous combination, therefore, since the outbreak, public outings are a health risk. 

This summer, because working was not an option, Josh decided to fulfill his dream of  attending Graduate School.  He began his first semester at Sacred Heart University in September 2020, studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling, in hopes to become a therapist and help children struggling with life threatening illnesses. Even though Josh is stationed in the hospital,  he is keeping himself busy and engaged while attending his “Remote” graduate classes. Oddly, since everyone is learning remotely, Josh has needed very little accommodation for his atypical situation.  He chooses to continue forging ahead to fulfill his dreams, despite the challenging day to day obstacles.  

Like many college students, Josh has accumulated tens of thousands of dollars in student debt. Normally, Josh would be working full time to pay back these loans back, but being hospitalized indefinitely, it has become a financial hardship for him.  Additionally, the year following the transplant will be filled with medical care, tests and follow-up doctor visits, making full time work, nearly impossible.  These funds will help Josh pay his student loans and graduate school tuition.

Josh’s parents, Michele and Matthew, travel almost daily to New York City.  Some of these funds will help them pay for parking, food, hotels, gas and medical co-pays. Michele and Matthew both plan to continue working their full time jobs through this process, unless that becomes an impossibility.  

The Hermsen Family has always been there for their community, family and friends and now they could benefit from our assistance. Josh is an extremely strong willed person and we are hopeful that he will persevere through these unprecedented challenges. 

If you know Josh, you won’t be surprised to hear, he has no other plan than to be one of the very few, three -time heart transplant recipients in the world.  

If anyone can survive this, Josh can.