Rafe's Amazing Heart & Kidney Transplant Journey
Donation protected
As most of you are probably already aware, my dear friend Rafe Carroll suffered a sudden and severe illness in the spring of 2012 that resulted in a completely unexpected emergency heart transplant surgery.
Early this past December, for reasons unknown, he experienced a full cell-mediated rejection of his transplanted heart. He spent the next three, incredibly terrifying months in the UW Medical Center while his medical team fought to keep him stable long enough to get him on the transplant list once again, which they were thankfully able to do a month ahead of schedule in February.
During this time he went into cardiogenic shock which caused his kidneys to shut down and ultimately led to the loss of one kidney, effectively bumping him up to tier 2 in urgency on the transplant list. On March 6th he got the much anticipated, long awaited news that a heart and kidney were on the way, and in the early morning hours on March 7th he underwent his second transplant surgery.
A full 18 hours later, Rafe received another, quite miraculous lease on life with a new and robust heart and kidney.
In the relatively short time I have known Rafe, I have become increasingly aware of one particular character trait that has always remained constant with him no matter what trials and tribulations life has managed to throw down in his path...Rafe is an eternal optimist and always, always remains positive in all things. And it is pretty obvious to me that he has never been content to enjoy a solitary path of optimism, either. He industriously spreads goodwill everywhere he goes, in everything he does, affecting every life he touches in the most profoundly positive way.
Time and time again, I have watched as he has quite literally awed people with his absolute zest for life, his sheer excitement over things most never take the time to notice in their busy, daily lives. He is always striving to learn new things and eagerly shares his knowledge with anyone with a curious mind. I personally cannot count how many times in the past 12 years I have learned something random and unique from Rafe, or experienced his no-nonsense attitude adjustment when negativity was all I could see at that moment. He simply wouldn't have it, and wouldn't let up until I could see the joy all around me once again.
I have spent the better part of the past three months reflecting on this while praying for my friend's life. The incredible generosity he constantly displays, his time always so freely given, has inspired and challenged me to be more thoughtful of others and more generous with my own time - to spend it wisely, taking in my surroundings, but to also give of it freely. To truly appreciate the time that has been given to me, and to do good things with it.
Rafe has been given a precious and infinitely priceless gift...a THIRD chance at life. To begin this new chapter once again whole and healthy, but also heavily weighed down in debt from massive medical expenses, seems unjustly harsh.
I want to return the favor to a friend who has given so much, to give back to him and his family so that they can move forward in this new chapter more easily and get back to the important things - LIVING LIFE WITH A ZEST!
I would like to ask each and every one of you to please join me in helping the Carroll's get back to the good things in life. If you can, please donate to their fund. Every little bit will help lighten the load tremendously. Thank you so very much for your generosity and for your compassionate time.
Early this past December, for reasons unknown, he experienced a full cell-mediated rejection of his transplanted heart. He spent the next three, incredibly terrifying months in the UW Medical Center while his medical team fought to keep him stable long enough to get him on the transplant list once again, which they were thankfully able to do a month ahead of schedule in February.
During this time he went into cardiogenic shock which caused his kidneys to shut down and ultimately led to the loss of one kidney, effectively bumping him up to tier 2 in urgency on the transplant list. On March 6th he got the much anticipated, long awaited news that a heart and kidney were on the way, and in the early morning hours on March 7th he underwent his second transplant surgery.
A full 18 hours later, Rafe received another, quite miraculous lease on life with a new and robust heart and kidney.
In the relatively short time I have known Rafe, I have become increasingly aware of one particular character trait that has always remained constant with him no matter what trials and tribulations life has managed to throw down in his path...Rafe is an eternal optimist and always, always remains positive in all things. And it is pretty obvious to me that he has never been content to enjoy a solitary path of optimism, either. He industriously spreads goodwill everywhere he goes, in everything he does, affecting every life he touches in the most profoundly positive way.
Time and time again, I have watched as he has quite literally awed people with his absolute zest for life, his sheer excitement over things most never take the time to notice in their busy, daily lives. He is always striving to learn new things and eagerly shares his knowledge with anyone with a curious mind. I personally cannot count how many times in the past 12 years I have learned something random and unique from Rafe, or experienced his no-nonsense attitude adjustment when negativity was all I could see at that moment. He simply wouldn't have it, and wouldn't let up until I could see the joy all around me once again.
I have spent the better part of the past three months reflecting on this while praying for my friend's life. The incredible generosity he constantly displays, his time always so freely given, has inspired and challenged me to be more thoughtful of others and more generous with my own time - to spend it wisely, taking in my surroundings, but to also give of it freely. To truly appreciate the time that has been given to me, and to do good things with it.
Rafe has been given a precious and infinitely priceless gift...a THIRD chance at life. To begin this new chapter once again whole and healthy, but also heavily weighed down in debt from massive medical expenses, seems unjustly harsh.
I want to return the favor to a friend who has given so much, to give back to him and his family so that they can move forward in this new chapter more easily and get back to the important things - LIVING LIFE WITH A ZEST!
I would like to ask each and every one of you to please join me in helping the Carroll's get back to the good things in life. If you can, please donate to their fund. Every little bit will help lighten the load tremendously. Thank you so very much for your generosity and for your compassionate time.
Organizer and beneficiary
Nissa Bowen
Organizer
Wenatchee, WA
Rafe Carroll
Beneficiary