2019 Timothy Day

Name:                                     Timothy Day

Type of Donation:             Organ recipient

Age and Location:             Age 51 – Kenmore, NY

Transplant Date:                 5/31/2015

Sponsor:                               Honored by UNYTS

TIM’S STORY

Tim Day did not take the typical path to heart transplant, if there even is such a thing.  A lifetime of autoimmune disorders put him on this journey. Bouts with rheumatoid arthritis, Graves’ disease, and ulcerative colitis paved the way for hyper-eosinophilic syndrome (H.E.S.), a rare disorder in which select white blood cells malfunction and attack healthy tissues in the body instead of defending it.  Tim’s case started in 2012 with a short stint of H.E.S., which was successfully treated, but the disease moved to his heart and caused severe cardiomyopathy at age 45.

It was originally thought that Tim would recover, but the disease progressed and his condition worsened.  Tim was admitted to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY after suffering a third stroke, and he was placed on the heart transplant list.  While in the hospital, Tim’s condition continued to decline and he had surgery to implant a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) until a suitable donor could be found.  He was then sent home to wait.

In January 2014 Tim suffered a fourth stroke and Strong Memorial told him he was no longer a suitable candidate for transplant.  Heartbroken (pun intended,) Tim and his wife Sherry looked for somewhere else to turn. Through a friend of Sherry’s, they were directed to Massachusetts General Hospital, where Tim was added to the transplant list again in June of 2014.  After a couple more setbacks, Tim finally received the lifesaving gift of a new heart on May 31, 2015.

The profound dichotomy of the new heart is not lost on Tim, as he realizes that someone paid the ultimate price for his survival. While his family celebrated this enormous gift, there was another family suffering the loss of a dear loved one. Tim acknowledges this was not a battle fought alone but was an amazing team effort that included his medical team, neighbors, family, and generous anonymous donor. That is why Tim, his wife Sherry and their three children Erin, Clare & Henry continue to be ardent supporters of organ donation.