John Weakley suffered two heart attacks by age 54 and was told he would need a heart transplant. After being placed on the national organ transplant waiting list in June 1992, he eventually went into the critical care unit to wait until “the call” came. Within a month he lost 40 pounds, weighing in at less than 150 when at last a heart became available. John has since received a long-awaited letter from his donor’s mother. Says John, “My donor’s name was Steven, and he was the youngest of six children.”

John's Story

John Weakley was only 54 in the spring of 1992, but he had already suffered two heart attacks. The damage was severe; he was told he would need a heart transplant.

“When you’re told you need a heart transplant your first thought is death,” he recalled. “When will it happen? How long can I go with a heart so badly damaged? It really was a life changing diagnosis for me and my family.

“I was going to be very optimistic about my survival, even though I knew absolutely nothing about transplants. I wanted to live; however, I knew I would be in a fight for my life and I did not want to put a burden on any of my family.”

After much heart congestion and a hospital evaluation, John was put on the national organ transplant waiting list in June 1992 and sent home to wait. He was in and out of the hospital several times in the next few weeks with congestive heart failure.

A month later, he went into the CCU where he would wait until the “call” came for his heart. When he entered, he weighed close to 190 pounds. A month later, he weighed less than 150. Fortunately, a heart became available, and John and his wife Carol flew by air ambulance to the transplant center.

“The next day after surgery, I awoke with a 19-year-old heart beating in my chest. The day was August 9, 1992. I was overwhelmed with emotion,” John said. “A family had just lost a loved one, however they were still able to think of helping some one else during this difficult time.”

Fifteen months later, John began volunteering at his local hospital. Soon after, he and another heart recipient launched a transplant support group sponsored by the hospital auxiliary. The Center for Donation and Transplant in Albany supplied the literature and educational tools for the volunteers to use during events and health fairs. The program grew to include donation awareness sessions at high schools, colleges, civic groups and “just about any one who would listen to us.” For four years, they held a “Walk of Life” at Proctor Park in Utica, N.Y. to promote awareness for organ and tissue donation.

In December 2002, John received a long-awaited letter from his donor’s mother. He noted that “My donor’s name was Steven, and he was the youngest of six children.”

Now 72, John still remains active doing talks while serving as a full-time hospital employee. “I love what I do, and the best way for me to thank my family, my doctors and my donor family for all they have done for me is by taking care of myself and living the good life.”