- J
I’ve struggled with what to say, because how do you put a life of challenges and courage into words that will convey the true strength and bravery of a person? But I will try. Steven is the oldest of us three Graham children and when he came into this world, he was destined to live a life quite different from most and face challenges that tested him right from the beginning. Most people who know Steven know that not only does he have a big heart but a unique one. And now it is time for a new one.
Steven’s Story
To give a small background on Steven’s lifelong journey; He was born with a congenital heart defect called transposition of the great arteries. His heart did not develop with the figure eight circulation. The doctors recognized it right away and he was immediately transported to University of Iowa Hospital. He underwent his first surgery, a balloon atrial septostomy to allow the oxygenated pulmonary blood to mix with the deoxygenated blood in his heart. This allowed him to survive until he was old enough and strong enough for further reconstruction. My mom, having had a c-section was not able to see or hold her newborn son until three days later, and my dad had to travel back and forth between the two hospitals, his wife and his newborn son.
At just 4 months, with a heart the size of a walnut, he would undergo a twelve hour open heart surgery that reconstructed the flow of his heart. The best option at the time was to direct the flow of blood so the left side of his heart (the stronger side) pumps into the lungs and the right side (the weaker side) pumps out to the body.
Growing up Steven wasn’t always able to do what all the other kids could do. Physical activities and sports took more of a toll on him. He could not play contact sports or do activities that could put him at risk. He had to find hobbies that suited what he was able to do. I know there were times where that wasn’t easy for him and I know he had to work through feeling “different”. But he adapted to his condition and found other hobbies and activities that interested him. Let me tell you, you’re not winning Madden against that guy.
The surgical reconstruction was fine for a while but as his body grew things got more difficult. The right side struggled to pump out to Steven’s growing body. At 17 it was decided that Steven needed a pacemaker to improve his health, monitor his heart function, and continue living a reasonably normal life.
At 23 the pacemaker was replaced with a defibrillator. What was supposed to be a 1-2 day outpatient stay in the hospital turned out to be a week long stay and a rollercoaster ride. It took around 12 hours just to remove the pacemaker because the electrical leads had become embedded in his heart tissue. The doctors were forced to get creative and invented new techniques. They said it was their most difficult removal yet and saved the recording of the procedure to present at their next conference. I remember it was heartbreaking to tell Steven after that long stay under anesthesia that he did not have the defibrillator yet and would have to go back under the next day. As disappointed and uncomfortable as he was, nothing knocks him down, he accepted it, knowing it was just something he needed to get through. It had been a long three days and when he was finally brought to recovery, we were all relieved that it was all over. But in recovery I just didn’t think he looked right, after some persistence, they discovered somehow a puncture had been made and his lungs were actually filling with blood. Back to the surgical floor he went for repair and a drainage tube.
Along with all these major events, there were countless Iowa City trips to the hospital for routine checkups, defibrillator replacement, catheterizations, and other procedures to keep a close watch on Steve’s heart function. We have always known from the beginning that his heart would not be able to maintain forever and a transplant would be inevitable. All these moments in Steven’s life where we held on to each other for support, lifted each other up, and stayed strong for one another, most of all for him, has prepared us all for this final mountain he has to climb.
The Road Ahead
Steven spent 2020 in and out of the hospital, fighting to feel better. On December 16th Steven was admitted to the Mayo Clinic ICU in Rochester, MN where he has been and will stay until he receives his life saving heart transplant.
While the transplant seems scary and daunting it will be life changing for Steven. While we are all nervous and anxious, he is excited to have a new heart and more than ready. Because he will be able to do things he has never been able to before. He will be able to wake up every day feeling strong and healthy. He will be able to carry and hold his two year old daughter, Ari, for as long as he wants. He will be able to chase her and play without having to worry about not being able to keep up with her. He will not miss out on anything because he is too tired or doesn’t feel well enough. He has spent 33 years dealing with all the physical side effects of having a heart that isn’t working properly and one that would ultimately fail him. After the transplant that will no longer be the case, and that will truly be a miracle.
What we all want so much for Steven and the reason why we have created this fundraiser, is for him to be able to focus solely on preparing for this transplant and the road to recovery after it is done. It may take as long as four months for the right heart to become available for transplant, but it is near impossible to predict anything with certainty in this situation. At a moment’s notice the process will begin. After he receives his new heart he will have to live in Minnesota, near the hospital, for an additional three months to be closely monitored and attend regular and frequent appointments. His wife Randi, along with Ari, will join him for the recovery process, as he will need supervision around the clock. This will mean living in Minnesota in a new place while continuing to maintain their home in Iowa to come back to when it's all over. It will be a costly endeavor to cover the expenses of two homes, living expenses, travel expenses and anything else that may come up during that time. And then on top of that there will be medical bills upon medical bills that will start coming right away.
We want for them to be able to go through this difficult journey without the burden of financial stress.
Steven is an incredibly loving, kindhearted person who has faced challenges in his life that not many have. He does not complain about the hand he was dealt or waste time feeling sorry for himself. He has always appreciated the life he was given. He has not let his condition dictate his life. He has worked hard to live a life as normal as any. He has always worked and supported himself and now his wife and daughter as well. He takes care of himself and his family. His courage and resolve are absolutely amazing to all of us and I admire him deeply for it. He deserves for this to go smoothly and come out on the other side with a new heart and a new lease on life, free of the burden he has carried for so long.
How You Can Help
If you are in a position where you can make a donation for Steven and his family, that’s wonderful and we all appreciate it more than words can express. If you are not able to, your prayers, love, support and help spreading this page as far and wide as we can is just as valuable to us. Steven is SO loved and needs all the support he can get as he prepares to take on this journey.
Thank you for taking the time to read his story!
We love you Steven and we are all here with you, for you, and because of you <3
Steven’s Story
To give a small background on Steven’s lifelong journey; He was born with a congenital heart defect called transposition of the great arteries. His heart did not develop with the figure eight circulation. The doctors recognized it right away and he was immediately transported to University of Iowa Hospital. He underwent his first surgery, a balloon atrial septostomy to allow the oxygenated pulmonary blood to mix with the deoxygenated blood in his heart. This allowed him to survive until he was old enough and strong enough for further reconstruction. My mom, having had a c-section was not able to see or hold her newborn son until three days later, and my dad had to travel back and forth between the two hospitals, his wife and his newborn son.
At just 4 months, with a heart the size of a walnut, he would undergo a twelve hour open heart surgery that reconstructed the flow of his heart. The best option at the time was to direct the flow of blood so the left side of his heart (the stronger side) pumps into the lungs and the right side (the weaker side) pumps out to the body.
Growing up Steven wasn’t always able to do what all the other kids could do. Physical activities and sports took more of a toll on him. He could not play contact sports or do activities that could put him at risk. He had to find hobbies that suited what he was able to do. I know there were times where that wasn’t easy for him and I know he had to work through feeling “different”. But he adapted to his condition and found other hobbies and activities that interested him. Let me tell you, you’re not winning Madden against that guy.
The surgical reconstruction was fine for a while but as his body grew things got more difficult. The right side struggled to pump out to Steven’s growing body. At 17 it was decided that Steven needed a pacemaker to improve his health, monitor his heart function, and continue living a reasonably normal life.
At 23 the pacemaker was replaced with a defibrillator. What was supposed to be a 1-2 day outpatient stay in the hospital turned out to be a week long stay and a rollercoaster ride. It took around 12 hours just to remove the pacemaker because the electrical leads had become embedded in his heart tissue. The doctors were forced to get creative and invented new techniques. They said it was their most difficult removal yet and saved the recording of the procedure to present at their next conference. I remember it was heartbreaking to tell Steven after that long stay under anesthesia that he did not have the defibrillator yet and would have to go back under the next day. As disappointed and uncomfortable as he was, nothing knocks him down, he accepted it, knowing it was just something he needed to get through. It had been a long three days and when he was finally brought to recovery, we were all relieved that it was all over. But in recovery I just didn’t think he looked right, after some persistence, they discovered somehow a puncture had been made and his lungs were actually filling with blood. Back to the surgical floor he went for repair and a drainage tube.
Along with all these major events, there were countless Iowa City trips to the hospital for routine checkups, defibrillator replacement, catheterizations, and other procedures to keep a close watch on Steve’s heart function. We have always known from the beginning that his heart would not be able to maintain forever and a transplant would be inevitable. All these moments in Steven’s life where we held on to each other for support, lifted each other up, and stayed strong for one another, most of all for him, has prepared us all for this final mountain he has to climb.
The Road Ahead
Steven spent 2020 in and out of the hospital, fighting to feel better. On December 16th Steven was admitted to the Mayo Clinic ICU in Rochester, MN where he has been and will stay until he receives his life saving heart transplant.
While the transplant seems scary and daunting it will be life changing for Steven. While we are all nervous and anxious, he is excited to have a new heart and more than ready. Because he will be able to do things he has never been able to before. He will be able to wake up every day feeling strong and healthy. He will be able to carry and hold his two year old daughter, Ari, for as long as he wants. He will be able to chase her and play without having to worry about not being able to keep up with her. He will not miss out on anything because he is too tired or doesn’t feel well enough. He has spent 33 years dealing with all the physical side effects of having a heart that isn’t working properly and one that would ultimately fail him. After the transplant that will no longer be the case, and that will truly be a miracle.
What we all want so much for Steven and the reason why we have created this fundraiser, is for him to be able to focus solely on preparing for this transplant and the road to recovery after it is done. It may take as long as four months for the right heart to become available for transplant, but it is near impossible to predict anything with certainty in this situation. At a moment’s notice the process will begin. After he receives his new heart he will have to live in Minnesota, near the hospital, for an additional three months to be closely monitored and attend regular and frequent appointments. His wife Randi, along with Ari, will join him for the recovery process, as he will need supervision around the clock. This will mean living in Minnesota in a new place while continuing to maintain their home in Iowa to come back to when it's all over. It will be a costly endeavor to cover the expenses of two homes, living expenses, travel expenses and anything else that may come up during that time. And then on top of that there will be medical bills upon medical bills that will start coming right away.
We want for them to be able to go through this difficult journey without the burden of financial stress.
Steven is an incredibly loving, kindhearted person who has faced challenges in his life that not many have. He does not complain about the hand he was dealt or waste time feeling sorry for himself. He has always appreciated the life he was given. He has not let his condition dictate his life. He has worked hard to live a life as normal as any. He has always worked and supported himself and now his wife and daughter as well. He takes care of himself and his family. His courage and resolve are absolutely amazing to all of us and I admire him deeply for it. He deserves for this to go smoothly and come out on the other side with a new heart and a new lease on life, free of the burden he has carried for so long.
How You Can Help
If you are in a position where you can make a donation for Steven and his family, that’s wonderful and we all appreciate it more than words can express. If you are not able to, your prayers, love, support and help spreading this page as far and wide as we can is just as valuable to us. Steven is SO loved and needs all the support he can get as he prepares to take on this journey.
Thank you for taking the time to read his story!
We love you Steven and we are all here with you, for you, and because of you <3