My Transplant Support Team

I would like to introduce you to my Stanford care and support team. These individuals have gone above and beyond to manage my care. They are compassionate, kind and extremely knowledgeable.

Dr. Dhillin, Dr. Chhatwani and Dr. Mooney are my main health care team. I fly to California monthly for follow up appointments with them. As time goes on my appointments will become less frequent. When my organs start to reject the first symptoms will appear in my lungs first and not my heart. Therefore, my transplant team is made up of my pulmonologists. Having my heart and double lung transplant was not a cure all. I was informed that it is not if, but when my lungs reject my meds will be adjusted and possible procedures may be needed. It was interesting to me to learn that many transplant recipients have needed a second transplant.

 Dr. Gundeep Dhillon, Pulmonologist, Critical Care Specialist 

Dr. Dhillon is the cool calm and collect doctor. He always greets me with a fist pump. I get to see Dr. Dhillon during transplant clinic. He takes the time to listen and answer all my questions and concerns. 

Dr. Laveena  Chhatwani, Lung Transplant Specialist, Pulmonary Critical Care Specialist

I always feel safe and protected when Dr. Chhatwani is in the room. She was there when I had my stroke. I felt a sense of peace when I woke up during my stoke and she looked me in the eyes and spoke to me. Dr. Chhatwani seems to always be near when I go to the ER or need extra medical attention. 

 Dr. Joshua Mooney, Pulmonologist, Heart and Lung Transplant Specialist 

Dr. Mooney was present during most of my post transplant surgeries and procedures. I can still picture his eyes peeking over his mask during those procedure and surgeries. It was nice to see a familiar face.

Ellen Arce, Transplant Coordinator  

I keep Ellen busy with my weekly, sometimes daily, phone calls and constant med dose changes. She's my go to gal for all my transplant questions and needs. 

 Dr. Anson Lee, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeon

Dr. Lee has an incredible mind. I was a rare case and there were some unexpected surprises when he performed my transplant. I'm sure Dr. Lee was guided by our Heavenly Father on the reconstructive surgery that was necessary to successfully complete my transplant.

 Dr. Antra Romfh, Adult Congenital Heart Disease Cardiologist

Dr. Romfh took over part of my care pre-transplant. She understood how my heart worked with its unique plumbing. She digitally created a picture of my heart and took the time to explain how it worked. While on vacation she called and informed me that I was in third degree heart block and needed a pacemaker immediately or my heart may stop beating at any moment. Then she continued to call me daily to check on me until she came back from vacation. 

Dr. Tarini Goyal, Stroke and Neurocritical Care 

My favorite memory of Dr. Goyal was when I independently walked into her office and she stood there with her mouth wide open in shock. She continued to say she expected me to be in a wheelchair or using my walker. She then said, "I don't have the answers as to why you can walk, and are doing so well, but I don't ask."

 Dr. Olga Fedin Goldberg, Neurologist 

Dr. Goldberg worked with Dr. Goyal on my case. During my visits she would stop by to check in on me and was there for a second opinion. 

Dr. Sher Yelizaveta, Psychiatrist 

Dr. Sher saw the worst side of me and I gave her a run for her money. She was called in when I was psychotic from being sleep deprived. The nurses even had her talk to me over the phone to try and help calm me down. 

There were many others who participated in my care who I will never be able to fully express my gratitude and appreciation. The nursing staff we're amazing and became my friends. The following individuals contributed in my care and well being:

• Ashley, Dorothy, and Samantha my ICU nurses. 

• Karen, Sara and Lakeisha in the D3 Patient Unit.

• Brooke and Luke in the ER who took care of me with my horrible nose bleeds.

• Mandy my RN case manager who handled just about everything.

• Jilian and Kaetlin my physical and occupational therapists.

• Hoa-My my B3 floor nurse during my hospital visit to change my blood thinners.

• Suzie and Carole, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from the Palo Alto 1st ward, who befriended me and checked in on me while I was at Stanford and back home in Utah. 

There were also random patients who would visit with me. I'll always remember working along side of Henry, who also had a heart transplant and a stroke. It was nice to have someone who understood what I was experiencing. I'm so thankful for their knowledge and expertise. I never realized how many people would be involved in my transplant.

I want to thank my donor and their family for choosing to donate his or her organs. Without them, I would not be alive.

I really want to thank my Heavenly Father for the life he has given me. It has been one wild ride. If you would have asked me a little over a month ago if I would do it all over again, I would have said no. I'm grateful that I did. I have learned and gained so much from each experience I had and people I met. It was hard and I still have work to do for my recovery, but I finally see the benefits. 

The night of my transplant my dad and Grandma Ames visited me. My dad continually said over and over, "everything will be okay." I never forgot that and when times were to hard to handle I reminded myself of my dads words and promises. He was right! Everything is okay. In fact, things are better than okay. Life is beautiful and the Lord is good.