In August 1995, two weeks after returning from a business trip to Brazil, Mark Reagan learned that a virus had damaged his heart; eventually he would need a heart transplant. Mark was admitted to the hospital in the fall of 2002, and five months later he received the gift of life. Since receiving his life-saving transplant, Mark has met and become close with his donor's family. Life's challenges also take on new meaning for Mark, who feels blessed with a new heart, a new family and a new life. "The bumps in the road of life don't quite seem the same after you've received a new heart."

Mark's Story

In August of 1995, Mark Reagan traveled to Brazil on business. As Chairman of Global Construction Practice at Marsh, Inc., the world's largest construction broker, Mark routinely traveled overseas for business. Mark had not been sick in 20-plus years, so he considered himself to be in good health. However, two weeks after returning from his business trip, Mark learned that he had been infected with a virus that had severely damaged his heart. He was told he would eventually need a heart transplant.

"To say I was shocked was an understatement," said Mark, now 63. "I had not missed a day of work in 17 years and now I was dealing with a failing heart and deteriorating arteries."

Mark spent the next seven-and-a-half years getting to know doctors, nurses, and EMTs in New Jersey, New York City, Boston, Chicago, Nashville, Paris, and London as he dealt with chronic heart failure, arrhythmia, cardiac arrest and all the related medical crises that come with heart failure.

Finally, he was admitted to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in the fall of 2002 to wait for a new heart. Months passed, and 149 days after being admitted to the hospital, doctors told Mark a heart had been allocated to him and he would be operated on the following day. Mark sat in his hospital room with his wife, Helen, and sons, Tom and Ed, and told them, "Regardless of what happens tomorrow there will be no bad results. If the worst happens, I'll die knowing I was the man I wanted to be. And if the best happens, I will live the rest of my life being the man I want to be."

Since receiving his life-saving transplant, Mark has met and become very close with the family of his donor, 19-year-old Jorge Gonzales. "He was an exceptional young man and his family is filled with wonderful people," said Mark, "Even though they live in Miami, they consider me part of their family." Mark was moved to tears when his donor family invited him down to Miami to celebrate his 60th birthday three years ago with his new family.

Filled with gratitude and a new perspective on life, Mark understands how precious the gift of organ donation is. "From the doctors and nurses who saved me, to the family who gave me renewed life, I have known so many who have dedicated their lives to giving that most precious gift. I dedicate my life and my prayers to them."

Life's challenges also take on new meaning for Mark after receiving a new heart. "The bumps in the road of life don't quite seem the same after you've received a new heart." Mark feels he was blessed with a new heart, a new family and a new life.