Life Goes On - Until It Doesn't

A Transplant Story

Today is May the fourth, also known as “Star Wars Day” because “May the fourth be with you.” If you were raised in certain religious denominations, you might feel the auto-response of “And also with you” come to mind.

You might ask me, “What does Star Wars Day have to do with organ donation?”

My answer, “Everything has something to do with organ donation.”

You see, I would not be here today without the ultimate gift of life from two organ donors and the selfless gifts their families gave. I wouldn’t be typing this, drinking coffee near the fireplace while my little dog snores nearby, and wondering why it’s so cold in Michigan in May. I would have been dead nearly 20 years ago.

If you know anything about me, you know that I’ve had two heart transplants. Why two? Because transplanted hearts don’t last forever. The average life expectancy of a transplanted heart is 10 to 15 years. Pretty much the same as a dog’s life span. I hit the average with my first heart, coming in just under 13 years. I’m hoping to beat the average this time around.

This post isn’t about me. It’s about my friend Roxanne. She is a heart transplant recipient who is clocking 15 years on her borrowed heart. But it’s running out of time, and she’s on the list for a second heart transplant.

I wrote a post about Roxanne last year in April when she had me as a guest on her radio show, “Michael’s gifts.” You can read that original post and listen to that interview below.

During that interview, we discussed my life with two heart transplants and changes I would like to see in the future of transplantation.

The two biggest changes I would like to see are increased access to donor organs and improved anti-rejection drugs. The same drugs that keep us from rejecting our donated organs also make us sick and ultimately destroy the rest of our bodies.

Something I frequently tell people is that a transplant isn’t a cure. It’s a treatment. Medical science can replace a sick organ with a healthy one, but we are required to remain under medical supervision for the rest of our lives. We take medicine daily. We must follow certain protocols to stay healthy and protect our gift of life.

The biggest barrier to delivering life-saving organ transplants to those in need is the lack of organ donors. I know I say this a lot, but on this first Sunday in May, on Star Wars Day, May the Force compel you to register as an organ donor.

May the Force Be with You!

Please share this widely and encourage others to register as well.

Register to become an Organ Donor today.