Bob's Story
Bob has been waiting for a life-saving heart transplant since the spring of 2005. At 63 years old, Bob is no stranger to heart trouble – it’s something he’s struggled with his whole life. He has had two major surgeries to repair his heart, and now the only thing that will save him is a heart transplant.
Being on the list has restrictions that prevent Bob from living his life to the fullest. He cannot travel for business or pleasure, including seeing his children and grandchildren who live on the east coast. “Little kids are little kids for only a short while,” he says “and I hate to miss it by not being able to travel to see them.” Outdoor activities are also more difficult, and he is no longer able to enjoy hunting, fishing and golfing like he used to.
Bob talks about the wait and the uncertainty as the hardest part of being on the list. “The doctor doesn’t know how long I’m going to be on the list – he doesn’t know if it will be an hour, a day or a year or more. Life is uncertain in a very real way. What I do know is that without a heart transplant I probably have about two more years to live.”
Throughout it all, however, Bob has kept a positive attitude. “I see being on the list as an opportunity for a new start, a new life. On one hand it’s good, because I know there’s a solution out there. But it can be unsettling at times.”
Bob’s family – his wife of more than 40 years, his two children and his two young grandchildren – keep him focused on the positive and what’s important in life. Bob continues to practice architecture, which he has been doing for more than 30 years. When he receives his transplant, Bob looks forward to traveling, golfing, hunting and fishing.
UPDATE!
Bob is now the grateful recipient of a heart transplant, a gift he received in the spring of 2007 after a two-year wait on the list. He is enjoying life to the fullest with his wife, his children and his grandchildren.