Jennifer. J. Chow

New Year, New Heart

Recently, my older daughter had to create a braided narrative for her English class. This means she wove together present and past timelines, along with different perspectives. Since the true story was supposed to contain a medical element, she decided to do an in-depth interview with my dad for inspiration.

Rope braid my older daughter created on me

It’s been six years since my dad got a heart transplant, and it feels long ago and yet so recent. My dad’s heart condition (congestive heart failure) originated from a random viral infection he got while on vacation in Malaysia in 2004. After an initial alarming prognosis (which my dad deliberately did not mention to me), he got through that period and kept up his heart health.

Until 2017. A flurry of events combined to create a medical disaster: the retirement of his primary doctor, a miscommunication with his cardiologist, uncalled-for dropping of medications, and a lengthy international flight.

Things went downhill. We experimented with IV medication, installed a pacemaker… Eventually, he was given the choice of a getting a heart pump–or a transplant. Except he didn’t want a pump. And none of the nearby hospitals did transplants.

In a medical drama worthy of riveting fiction, we ended up ambulancing him from Central California to Los Angeles to be admitted to Cedars Sinai. Even then, he wasn’t guaranteed to be put on the organ wait list. The doctors would need to do days of intense testing to make sure he was an appropriate candidate.

Come Christmas, the best present ever showed up. He’d passed with flying colors and was put on the wait list. A few days later, he received a new heart. Note: The usual wait time can take weeks, months, even years. And as a recipient, you don’t know until you’re already in the operating room whether or not the heart will actually be a good fit. Honestly, it’s nothing short of a miracle that my dad got his heart so quickly and that he’s experienced zero rejection afterwards.

Every heart tranplant patient gets this nifty heart pillow.

New year, new heart. We often joke that my dad has a new birthday now. He most recently turned six in heart-years.

Yes, East Coasters, this is a Carvel cake.

May you all experience wonder and renewal in 2024. Please share any heartwarming stories and/or heartfelt wishes for the new year.

46 thoughts on “New Year, New Heart”

  3. JENN: It’s wonderful that your dad was able to get a heart transplant so quickly. Happy 6th heart birthday to him.

    My late mom had chronic kidney failure from her early 30s & was on dialysis 3 times a week for 4 years before she could get a kidney transplant. The donor was a 16-yr old girl who died in a cycling accident in Toronto. Kidney transplants were relatively new in the early 1970s so there was a lot of unknowns back then. But I am happy to say that my mom lived a more normal life for almost 30 years before suddenly passing away in 2003.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Oh, I forget to mention that we also celebrated the anniversary of my mom’s kidney transplant each year (May 25). And we also gave the transplanted kidney a name: Sid(ney) the kidney. I know the donor was a girl but it’s was really hard for 8-yr old me to come up with another name!

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

      1. Sidney the kidney is a great name! Hmm, maybe we should come up with a name.

        (My friend actually had to get a kidney donated to her recently–science has come a long ways, and it was an easy match to get her relative to help out. Both individuals are doing well.)

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

      2. My grandmother’s name was Sidney! It apparently was a not uncommon name for girls back in the early 1900s. (She was named Sidney Pauline–her parents clearly wanted male sounding names, lol–and went by Pauline.)

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

        2. Thanks, Leslie. Good to know that Sidney was a female name in historic times. Our family liked actress Cyd Charisse (female, different spelling). Singin’ in the Rain was one of our favourite musicals that we watched repeatedly on TV.

          Liked by 2 people

          Reply

    2. What a touching story, Grace. I’m so glad your mom received a kidney and was able to enjoy life for decades after.

      We’ve been in contact with the donor family, and it was such a moving experience to meet them in person.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. Happy 6th Birthday to you dad!!! I LOVE happy endings, and being able to receive a new heart so fast is truly a blessing. May he be blessed with many more healthy happy years!
    Carol

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  8. Hestia here.
    What a beautiful story! It’s very inspiring. And happy 6th heart birthday to your dad.

    Nothing I got compares to what you went through. My husband had a heart valve replacement done back in 2015. Or was it 2016? I don’t remember anymore! He’d been having trouble walking for more than a few blocks without stopping to breathe for a couple of years, and sometimes he would pass out and/or fall from lack of oxygen. Sadly, he still has the problem because he doesn’t believe in exercise, but it’s a bit better now. I was very grateful for a friend who lives in the area who was helping me through it all.

    My wish for the new year? I want to see a book from all the chicks come out, and my manuscript to find a publishing company, so I can join you!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Passing out? Oh no, Hestia. My dad had issues with walking to fetch the mail or even moving out the garbage bins. I’m glad that things are a little bit better for your husband and that you have wonderful support from your friend.

      As for books from the Chicks, make sure to check out “The Latest” column on the side of our blog to find our upcoming releases! And here’s to you finding a publisher–we can’t wait to have you as a guest author on our blog!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. That truly is a heart-warming story, Jen–happy 6th heart birthday to your dad!

    And how great of an assignment is that, that your daughter’s teacher had them do–such a great way to help foster the writers of the future!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    2. I was going to say the same thing, Leslie! I really admire good teachers. I had a bunch, my kids had a bunch, and I think Jen’s kids have a bunch too.

      I’m also in awe of the transplant program. it’s so important and has come so far. I wish the donor list was opt-out instead of opt-in, though. A lot more people would donate if it was easier. But I’m proud to be a donor!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  13. What an experience! Glad his new heart got done so quickly. I personally know two people with new hearts. What an incredible medical miracle! Glad he’s doing well.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  14. I am so glad to hear that your father got the heart transplant. My father had heart issues, but it was back in 1982 and there were not the options we have now. I still miss him and want him back. He was the best Dad. So glad that you have yours still. My husband gave a kidney to his brother in 1973 and it was still hanging in there. But in 2010, he had esophageal cancer. They got it all in the operation, but other things happened in the hospital, and he passed. It was hard on my husband and still is to this day. But he was glad to do it for his brother.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      1. Thank you and it is. He said the test to see if he was a match was worse than the operation. I still miss both of my parents. I used to talk to my mother on the phone every day as we now live in Georgia, and she was in way South Texas. I left my husband in Georgia and went to South Texas–Harlingen to take care of her in Sept. 1997. Not left in marriage but because she needed me. I had to get a job down there as we did not have money for either of us for me not to work. I got a teaching job in Brownsville, Texas before I left here. She lived for 6 months, and I was so glad that I was with her. Then I stayed until 2000 so that I could retire with full Texas teacher retirement at age 52 in Texas. It also gave me time to disposes of her things and sell her house. It was hard on us, but I did get to see Hubby Dearest once a month as he had to travel to Dallas and then would come down to be with the dogs and me. It was lonelier for him than me as I had the dogs and a squad of lady friends from work and from mother’s neighborhood. They are still friends to me today by email. We do what we have to do in life to make a go of it all. We also do it to help our family.

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

  16. What a wonderful story! Your father was very lucky Kas well as your whole family to still have him with you).

    The writing assignment sounds like a really good one. I didn’t know the term braided narrative, but assigned a similar one to my creative writing students – a story from an older family member compared to something g in their own lives, inspired by Grace Paley’s essay Traveling. I hope your daughter enjoyed the assignment!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Agree, Judith. So happy my dad is still here to celebrate holidays and heart birthdays.

      That writing assignment sounds wonderful. My daughter really enjoyed the creativity of hers–and getting to know more about family. She was even inspired to interview other relatives just for fun.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  17. A wonderful story — one of my parents recently got caught in buck passing between cardiologists (it’s pulmonary!) and pulmonologists (it’s cardiac!). Resolved now with good results. Happy heart birthday to your Dad! And I loved the Carvel reference–I grew up on those cakes with the crunchy stuff in the middle.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  18. Jen, my apologies for chiming in so late–I have been a little out of it since NYE with some Dread Gumboo. Thank you for sharing your dad’s story with us–it is truly nothing short of a miracle, and how wonderful that you and your family can celebrate so many more new “heart” birthdays with your dad. Happy New Heart Year and (from this East Coaster) bring on the Cookie Puss!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  19. Hope I’m not too late for my response. BTW, I am Jenny’s dad mentioned in the above article. FYI, I received a perfect matching heart only two days after I was placed on the waiting list. That’s truly a God’s grace!
    Currently I have as much energy as when I was in my 40s, though I am in the 70s now. Aside from receiving the best medical treatment from Cedars Sinai, much credit has to go to the TLC from all my children and grandchildren, especially my daughter Jenny. As a result, I not only can enjoy my busy retirement life, but also have been busy traveling.
    May God bless all of you with happiness and good health. 🙏🙏

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to Becky Cancel reply