Harley Duffer

Type of Donation:       3x Heart and 1x Kidney Recipient

Age and Location:      Age 27 – Chandler, AZ

Date of Donation:           08/24/2022

Sponsor:                      Honored by Mayo Clinic Transplant Center Arizona

HARLEY’S STORY

Harley Duffer is a 3-time heart and one-time kidney transplant recipient. Born in Dallas, TX, Harley was an active child who was involved in many sports and activities, including soccer, football, tennis, and participating in rodeos. At the age of 12, Harley started feeling sick and was taken to get chest x rays. Medical professionals discovered that his heart was three times its normal size he was diagnosed with ARVD cardiomyopathy. He received his first heart transplant in 2009, on Christmas day. In 2014, Harley's family moved to Arizona where he later joined an apprenticeship to become a journeyman lineman. Thanks to his donor, Harley was able to continue with his life as a young adult and get married.

A year after meeting his wife Justine, Harley learned that he was experiencing heart failure once again and would need a second heart transplant. He and his wife had discovered that they were going to be parents just days before his heart failure diagnosis and they would be adding a little girl to their new family. Harley waited 5 months before receiving his second heart transplant on 5/27/21. Their daughter, Libi, was born in September of the same year. While spending the next 8 months recovering and getting ready to go back to work, Harley found out that his heart was not recovering as well as it should have been. Harley was placed on the waiting list for a third time. He received this third heart and first kidney in 2022, thanks to the selfless gift of a donor. While recovering from his third heart and kidney transplant, Harley found out that him and his wife would be adding another member to their family. After finding out his donor's name was Peyton, Harley and his wife Justine decided to name their second daughter Peyton.

Harley was fortunate to meet his donor's family shortly after. Today, Harley lives a full life with his family and is immensely grateful for the gift of life he received from his donors. This experience has guided him to a greater purpose: the importance of spreading donor awareness.