Sherrell Gay sherrellgay@.att.net Georgia age 41 Happily married to Tony for 23 years 3 children: Michelle (19), Jeremy (17), Tracy (14)

Before CHF

My life has been like a fairy tale. I grew up in Waynesboro, a small rural town in Georgia. I had two loving Christian parents, 2 siblings, graduated from nursing school, married my high-school sweetheart, retired from work to become a full-time mom, moved into our dream home in the country and settled down to become "Super woman."
     I was involved in volunteer work in the community and at church, chauffeuring my kids around, substituting a school and a lot of time I "met myself coming and going." I seemed to have an endless supply of energy. Both of our families lived nearby and no one in either family had ever had a serious illness. We were and continue to be blessed!

My CHF

Our life changed forever in late October, 1994. On the way to take my children to school, I began having chest pains. I went on shopping with my best friend and the pain worsened. After an examination with the doctor and 2 EKGs, I was told that the EKG showed (according to the doctor) a non-life threatening abnormality but my immediate problem was inflammation in my breastbone. So the doctor sent me home with an RX.
     Two days later, on my 38th birthday, I was admitted to the hospital in severe CHF. It still didn't sink in how sick I was; I joked with the nurses that it was my birthday and no one was showing me enough attention, so I decided to come to the hospital. <g> After much testing, the cardiologist diagnosed DCM. My EF was 20%. Nine days later, I went home on lots of medication and much bed rest. We thought it could not get much worse but were we wrong! On December 9, I experienced an SCD (sudden cardiac death). Only my children were home with me. They called 911 and the EMT's arrived and quickly started CPR. Using their defibrillator, they restarted my heart.
     I spent the next two weeks in the ICU. I have no memory of this time. EP studies showed I would benefit from an ICD. I came home December 23, just in time for Christmas, my favorite holiday. My day-time "baby-sitters," our Moms, took over the house and the kids and my husband adjusted their schedules so I would never be alone. About one year later, I was finally able to stay by myself.
     My ICD has only fired once. Since I had no improvement in my EF, my doctors felt like I should have a transplant evaluation. This was a positive experience. That doctor wanted me to try Cardiac Rehab. After doing this for 9 months, my EF was up to 30% and I had shown improvement on the mVo2 test. My DCM has been stable for over a year now. My AICD wires became tangled, so I had to have it moved; then it tried to erode so more surgery was in order. Now I am doing well.

Coping

I move slowly and try to take one day at a time. I pick and choose activities that are the most important to me and save my energy for those. We cope with this life-style change by God's grace and our faith in Him and by the wonderful support of our families and friends. I have my "pity parties" and then celebrate my blessings. I am very fortunate in the support my husband has given me since day one and also for the support of my kids, both our families and friends. I believe a strong support team is important in surviving this illness. This summer, our family was highlighted on a local TV station, stressing the importance of everyone knowing CPR.

My Interests

• Spending time with my husband and children
• Camping with family and friends
• Reading
• Playing piano and organ for our church
• Learning about our computer
• Crafting
• Sending cards to people "just because"

My goal is to enjoy life each day. I believe God gave me a second chance at life and I need to take advantage of that. He's not finished with me yet! My motto is "Don't ask God to move the mountain. Instead ask God for the faith to climb the mountain!"

Update Update Update Update

September 24, 1999 - These last couple of years I have reached a plateau where my health has mostly remained at the same level. My EF is around 25%. I still have good days where I feel almost normal and then the next day I can hardly walk across the room, but I am not complaining. It could be a lot worse. My ICD has not fired again and it is Y2K-ready. I'm glad I have that safety net but I get short of breath upon exertion so I really prioritize my activity levels. Two of my children are now in college and the youngest is a sophomore in high school. Most of my energy use revolves around her needs. I continue to have wonderful family and friend support. In another month, it will be 5 years since I was diagnosed with DCM and CHF. Since the doctors told us I would not live a year without a transplant, I take that milestone as a time to celebrate. Life is good.
     April 21, 2000 - I was diagnosed with angina called Syndrome X last month, March, 2000. A heart cath at that time showed no blockages but my heart size has increased. I have less stamina but am not complaining. God continues to be with my family and me.

Update Update Update Update

May 1, 2002 - During 2001, my stamina continued to decrease. Most of my medications were taken to the maximim doses and then back down again, trying to combat nausea problems. I became almost homebound. In February of 2002, I went to Emory Hospital in Atlanta for re-evaluation for transplant. It was discovered that I had a kidney problem, later determined to be caused from my heart failure. My EF is now 10 to 15% and I only scored an 8 on my Vo2max.
     The transplant team gave some instructions to help me improve my overall condition: lose 5 pounds, start cardiac rehab, strictly watch my diet and fluid intake. This week I repeated the Vo2max and improved my score to 12. All the negative factors have been corrected so I was told I medically qualify for transplant. The ball is in my court.
     I now have to make the decision whether to list at this time or not. I plan to continue my cardiac rehab and hope to maintain or improve my overall body condition. Life remains liveable, but mostly is spent resting and moving around slowly. I know God is in control and we continue to look to Him for our guidance.

November 10, 2002 - On June 13, 2002, my doctors, husband, and I came to the decision it was definitely time to be placed on the heart transplant list. I was a status 2, had my beeper, and was getting my life in order so I would be ready when the call came.
     On July 19 I went for my check-up and learned I was overloaded with fluid and would need to be admitted. I had to be started on a dobutamine drip and my heart decided it could not function without it. This moved me to a status 1B place on the list. The doctors calmly told me I would need to live in the hospital until a heart became available. Five days later, on August 3, my miracle happened!
     I am the proud recipient of a "new" heart. My old heart was the size of a football when it was removed and was just barely pumping at all. My days here were definitely numbered. Going into surgery, I felt no anxiety. I knew I was in a win-win situation. I would awaken with a new heart working well or in the arms of Jesus. I was only in intensive care 4 days and in the hospital a week.
     Three months out, I am now walking 3 miles in less than 60 minutes and have a normal life style, something I have not enjoyed in 8 years. I am glad medication and a good treatment plan kept me stable for many years, but I am more glad to be back in control of my life.

October 28, 2005 - In August, I celebrated my third anniversary with my new heart. I have been blessed with no major rejections or other transplant problems. My donor was positive for CVM and I was negative so I did have one episode of that which required treatments. The routine medications are rough on my stomach so I have had some digestive problems, which hopefully are all straightened out now.
     My life after transplant has been amazing. Never in my deepest dreams did I ever imagine that after being sick for 7-1/2 years I would get to enjoy a normal life style. God has truly provided a major miracle in my life and now I must keep my gift going. Other than taking lots of medications, washing my hands frequently for germ control, staying away from sick people, not "digging" in the dirt barehanded, taking a flu shot each year, and since I have well water at my home, boiling my drinking water, I have no restrictions on my life style.
     I have to go to clinic on a regular basis for heart biopsies to check for rejection and once a year, I have a full heart catheterization. I take my blood pressure, pulse, and temperature twice daily, weigh each morning, and make sure I take my medications on time as scheduled. I have maintained a low-sodium diet even though my diet sheet lists that I can have more sodium now. After being off sodium so long, why should I start back? I try to eat healthy and exercise on a regular basis. My favorite form of exercise is riding my bicycle. I usually ride 2 to 3 times a week about 15 miles each time.
     In my personal life I enjoy camping with my husband, playing the organ at church, reading, and cooking. I serve as a Director for the Boshears Skyfest Airshow, assistant Sunday School Director at my church as well as serving on the Future Planning Committee there. For my transplant family, I serve as a volunteer with LifeLink of Georgia (our organ procurement organization) as a member of the Transplant Awareness Group. I am privileged to share my story and promote organ donation facts at churches, civic clubs, schools, health fairs, and other organizations. I also serve as the Georgia Transplant Foundation Heart Mentor Project Coordinator for Emory University Hospital. I work with transplant candidates and recipients answering non-medical questions and offering hope and encouragement. It is very rewarding to be able to help others that are traveling down the road to transplantation.
     I also serve as a spokesperson for the Workplace Partnership for Life program for Augusta Aviation, Battery Clinic, and Straight A Express. In 2004 I was privileged to be a member of Team Georgia and attend the National Transplant Games. This is an Olympic-type event with the athletes all solid organ transplant recipients. I participated in the 1500 meter race walk, the one K bike race, and the 20 K bike race. I didn't win my events, but I finished each race with grace for my age group. I plan to participate again in the 2006 games. I also was honored as "Miss June" in the LifeLink 2005 Calendar.
     I don't share all of this about my life to brag, but to help others realize you can live a full happy healthy life after transplant. I know without a doubt God gave me this second chance at life and I do plan to make the most of it. I enjoy each day to its fullest and make many memories!

Did you get any traits from your donor?

No, I did not. I believe all organs are just that - parts of the body that do a particular function. The mind is where our feeling and thought processes are located, and that is the one place God has not allowed man to successfully transplant.

How did you decide that transplant was the best option for you?

After living with DCM and CHF for 7-1/2 years, being on the maximum doses of the recommended heart failure medications, being on oxygen full time, having to ride in a wheel chair for any distance (I could walk about 5 feet with someone holding me up by the day I got my heart), knowing that my blood pressure and pulse were extremely low as well as my ejection fraction, I realized that if I wanted to live I had to decide the quality of life I wanted. I agreed to the transplant evaluation, which for me took several months due to a kidney problem that had to be resolved.
     After 4 months, the doctors told me I was medically ready to list but I had to make the decision. I cried all the way home on the 3-hour drive from Atlanta. I knew that for me to live, someone was going to die. Sure, my eternal salvation was secure already but if I wanted to live here on earth to see my children become adults, someone here, a stranger, would die. It would not be my fault and I couldn't pick the person. However, someone's family, in their grief, would unselfishly give me a chance at life. I realized that I could not make that decision on my own. My family talked with me, but ultimately it was my decision to make.
     I prayed to my God that He would give me the peace about the decision that He had planned for my life. The next day on a soap opera, one of the main characters was sick. His doctor came in and told him he had cardiomyopathy and that he would need to take lots of medications and rest. I sat up in bed - that was my illness and I had been there and done that regarding the medications and rest. Then he said, "If you want to live, you'll have to have a heart transplant." I immediately picked up the phone, called my preacher and asked him if God could talk through soap operas. His response was, "God can talk anyway he wants to." I felt a peace come over me and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that transplant was God's plan for my life. I don't believe God made me sick - that was just life - but I do know He will walk with you through whatever life brings.

How long did you wait?

I listed on the UNOS national waiting list June 13, 2002. I received my heart on August 3, 2002. I was one of the blessed people that did not have to wait long. The average wait for a heart is 2 months to 18 months in most cases, although it can be shorter and even years longer. In fact, I had to wait in the hospital from July 19th until my heart came. The doctors had told me it would be 2 months to one year waiting in the hospital. The night I was told that, I did my devotion. I looked in the concordance of my Bible and found the word heart. I thought I had read every verse with the word heart in it but that night I was led to Ezekiel where it reads, "I will give you a new heart and a new spirit." I put that on a large piece of paper and claimed it as my verse. My heart came 5 days later.

Do you know who your donor was?

All donations are anonymous. As recipients, we are asked to write a letter of thanks to our donor family. Writing that letter at eight weeks post-transplant was the hardest thing I have ever done. I did not hear back from my donor family, which is understandable. They were still in shock and in mourning. I wrote them again the next summer letting them know that I would be doing my Transplant Game events in his memory. I did get a letter from his mom about 2 months later. My donor was a 28-year-old man from a loving family.

Knowing what you know now about transplant, would you still make the same decision?

Yes, without a doubt. Without my transplant I would not be here today. My second chance at living a normal life came in the form of a precious gift from a stranger - the best gift anyone can give another person - life.

Is transplant a cure?

No, it is not a cure; it is a different treatment plan. Sure, I no longer have heart disease but I have a suppressed immune system and will be on medications the rest of my life. For me it is sure a better treatment plan than when I was being treated for heart failure.

What about the myths we hear about organ donation?

The truth is that organ donation does not cost the donor family anything. It does not delay the funeral service. You can have an open casket. Paramedics and doctors will do everything they can to save your life. All major religions approve or say it is a personal choice regarding organ donation. In most states, even if you have it on your driver's license that you wish to be an organ donor, a family member still must give permission.

  Sherrell -- January 31, 1998

All information on this site is opinion only. All concepts, explanations, trials, and studies have been re-written in plain English and may contain errors. No one here is a doctor. No information on this page should be used by any person to affect their medical, legal, educational, social, or psychological treatment in any way. This web site and all its pages copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Jon C.