The call

On Saturday, October 27th I celebrated my 38th birthday. When medical staff hear that I have lived 37.5 years without any surgeries, they shake their head in disbelief and ask follow up questions. I never realized how sick I was or how serious my heart defect was. I just lived my life the best I knew how because I didn't know any difference. The last few years I could tell my health was declining, but I didn't understand the severity. I didn't feel like death had warmed over, partially because I didn't know what that felt like. When I became really sick, I wasn't very worried until the day I got my call. I was placed on the heart and double lung transplant list on March 29, 2018. I was on the transplant list for 37 days. I was told the average wait for a heart and double lung transplant was 1 year. When my health became worse they moved me up on the list and the wait time was decreased to 6 months. Before I was placed on the list I told my family that I felt impressed that I would receive my transplant in May 2018. My mom said, "Okay. I believe you. You've been right before."

On Friday, May 4 I had a check up with my cardiologist at the University of Utah. After leaving my appointment with my cardiologist, I had severe pain in my chest. I didn't make it very far down the hall before I turned around because the pain in my chest was so intense I couldn't walk any further. I tried opening the door to my cardiologist office and the door was locked for the day. Levi told me we needed to walk down the hall to the ER. At the ER they immediately rushed me into a room and started hooking me up to all the monitors and had the doctors waiting to ask me questions. After answering a couple questions my cell phone rang displaying a number I did not recognize. I decided to answer it. I was informed that it was Stanford University Hospital and they had a possible match for me. Levi just stared at me and kept saying, "What?" and "Who is it?" I told Stanford I was being admitted into the University of Utah ER and they said they needed to talk to the Stanford doctors to get permission before they could proceed forward. When I hung up the phone, I started thinking that I had waited too long and I would miss my chance for getting my transplant. I told the ER doctors that I had received the call, but they were going to call me back. They returned my call within minutes. I gave my phone to the doctors and they set up a hospital to hospital transfer.

(My ride to the ambulance).

I was able to make a few phone calls before it was time to leave. I called my sister, Cindy and told her it was "go time." She was attending my nieces college graduation and informed me that they would head over as soon as possible to pick up Zoe. I called Zoe to tell her that we were leaving and that I loved her and would see her soon. My close friend, Ali stayed with Zoe until my sister was able to pick her up. My sister called my mom who was working at the Oquirrh Mountain Latter Day Saints temple. The temple workers took the note pictured to my mom. As soon as my mom received the note she called me and I was able to talk to her. Our good friends, Michael and April Sorensen drove to the hospital to pick up our car to drive it home for us. They kept us company while we waited in the ER. Michael and Levi were able to give me a priesthood blessing.

(The note the temple worker gave my mom. It was written on a sandwich crackers box lid).

It took a couple hours before the AirMed life flight team loaded me in the ambulance because they originally planned on taking us by helicopter until they realized we had our luggage with us, which was too heavy and big for the helicopter. The ambulance drove us to the airport where we boarded the AirMed life flight plane with the pilot, copilot, and two life flight team members. We flew to San Jose airport where we were taken in another ambulance to Stanford. We arrived at Stanford around 11:00 pm. I was admitted and I waited in my hospital room for another hour or two.

(On the AirMed plane heading to San Jose)

(Levi was really tired)

(My AirMed team)

I think the adrenaline distracted me from my pain. I was excited and I felt like everything was happening very quickly and at the same time in slow motion. I felt calm and at peace waiting for updates on the next steps. I was never scared or worried.

(Heading down to the OR)

I was taken to the OR where they strapped me to a stretcher. One staff member was visiting with me while they hooked me up to all the machines. She accidentally told me that my donor was coming from Arizona. The transplant team moved to the other side of the room to prepare for my donor's organs to arrive. The air blowing in the room was so noisy I that could not hear what was being discussed among the transplant team. My back ached from being strapped to the stretcher for several hours. I tried to inform the transplant team that I was in so much pain, but they could not hear me and I was unable to get their attention. My pain became so intense that I started talking out loud to myself. I would take deep breathes and say things like, "I can do this", "I hurt", "Please help me." I started praying and asking for help. At that point my dad and Grandma Ames spirits visited me. They spoke to me and comforted me. While they were comforting me, a face poked over my head and said, "It's time." Shortly, after midnight on May 5th they put the oxygen mask over my face and everything went black.

I am forever indebted to my donor. I do not have the words to express my gratitude to my donor and their family. I'm alive because of my donor. I got to celebrate my 38th birthday because of my donor. I get to grow old with my sweetheart because of my donor. I get to continue raising my daughter because of my donor. My life will continue on this earth because of my donor.