Return to the Table of Contents

New Heart, New Attitude, Lots of Gratitude

His mouth masked for protection from germs, John McAroy gives a thumbs-up as his mother, Frances, drives him from Jefferson Hospital to her Northeast home to recuperate. - Robert Neroni Photography

John McAroy, 33, a native of Holmesburg, PA, and current resident of Turnersville, NJ, had to wait nearly nine months at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital for the right match to receive a new heart.

“For eight and a half months, the only people I saw were the nurses,” Mr. McAroy says. “They held my hand and said it was going to be all right. In eight and a half months, no one remotely came close to being mean to me. It means so much. I never doubted when I rolled into the operating room that I would open my eyes again. If you need to be sick, this hospital is the place to be.”

Mr. McAroy’s stay at Jefferson Hospital spanned from October 2005 until June 30, 2006.

“He was with us for so long it was like Jefferson had become his second home,” says Eric Hobson, RN, MSN, Heart Transplant Coordinator.

“He was a joy to have in the unit,” adds Barbara Ebert, CRNP, Heart Transplant Coordinator. “But we were as happy as he was when he was finally able to go home with his new heart.”

Fewer donors means longer waits for transplants
Paul J. Mather, MD, Director of Jefferson’s Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Center, explains why it took so long for Mr. McAroy’s successful heart transplantation:

“Nationwide, fewer donor organs are available, increasing numbers of patients’ wait for organs, and waits for transplant are longer. Sophisticated technology available at Jefferson’s state-of-the-art center makes the difference for patients like Mr. McAroy.”

In June, Mr. McAroy finally received his new heart through the Gift of Life Donor Program, the non-profit agency serving the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware that is responsible for recovering and distributing organs and tissues used in life-saving and life-enhancing transplants. He urges more people to consider donating organs:

“It’s a time of great tragedy when you make the decision to donated loved ones’ organs, but they can help many people.”

Jefferson’s sophisticated technology also made it possible for Mr. McAroy to look in, via computer-operated webcam, on some 400 friends, family members, co-workers and Jefferson Hospital staff who attended a beef ‘n’ beer benefit in March on his behalf at St. William’s Memorial Hall in Northeast Philadelphia.

Extraordinary commitment to getting in shape
Mr. McAroy’s need for a heart transplant was due to cardiomyopathy, characterized by an inflamed heart muscle, frequently due to a viral infection and exacerbated by little exercise, unhealthy diet and stress.

While awaiting the availability of a new heart, Mr. McAroy used his hospital stay to get in better shape for his surgery by walking and riding a stationary bike. By the time of his transplant, he had lost 115 pounds.

“John is the one and only patient I have seen in 14 years as a surgeon to make that kind of commitment to getting into the best shape possible for surgery,” observes Dr. Mather.

“I feel great,” Mr. McAroy declared on the day of his discharge.

Now recovering at his parents’ home in Holmesburg, PA, Mr. McAroy takes about 50 medications daily, visits the doctor weekly, will visit Jefferson Hospital 18 to 20 times during the next year, and must wear a mask over his mouth for protection from germs. He also continues to watch his weight and blood pressure.

According to Dr. Mather, “His prognosis is excellent.”

“My strength’s coming back,” Mr. McAroy confirms, “slowly, but surely.”