Author Archive

Last night, cousin Jim held a Barn and Bonfire party in celebration of his first “heart” birthday which will actually occur on October 29.  As you can see in the photo, both Jim and wife Donna were full of joy as a huge crowd of family, friends and business associates filled the barn with the “Honkytonk Renovators” entertaining throughout the night.  Jim and Donna’s kids Casey, Brad and Kristen (and ...

How do I catch you all up with what has happened over the last few months?  All I can say is … Life Has Happened!

Yes, we have had a few bumps in the road with the virus, but it is all working out.  Our trips to KC have turned into a two day date with my girlfriend.

Heart wise, it could not be better.  I have had about fourteen biopsies and no rejection.  My EF, the number that measures how strong ...

Here we are again at the St Luke’s Spa.  I don’t understand the long names for conditions and diseases, but this thing I have now goes by the initials  CMV.  It is a virus that happens to transplant patients at times.  I was on a preventive dose of meds and had a positive blood test.  They put me on a treatment dose and it went away and now back again.  Looks like IV treatment is what is going to happen ...

Everyone has memories of snow days they had in school. Today I enjoyed an adult snow day. For years I pushed the limit driving on slick roads to get to the office and getting frustrated I couldn’t work because of the weather. Today was different. I enjoyed trying to do nothing without being told I had to because of my recovery. All those days of recovery I was itching to get back out there paid off. I may not be ...

What a surprise!  The Christian County Headliner has our story on the front page of the paper.  If you can’t get the printed version, go to CCHeadliner.com and they have a way to get just this week’s online edition.  If you can’t do that you might just ask my mom, she will have a copy.

I think this article tells the story why and how hearttoheartnew.com was born.  To educate, promote and show just how one person can make a ...

Yesterday was my first monthly checkup.  The call today with the results was relieving.  Last month they discovered  a virus that some transplant patients get and the treatment has been as bad as the virus.  It is starting to be controlled and that is one more thing behind us now.  One of the most important things from the call today was the “no rejection” results from the biopsy.

Be sure to check out the addition on the Jim Huffman page … Listen (found at the bottom).

Directly from Jim … “Another great appointment  Got jumped up a week, no appointment next week and can drive in town.  Start rehab in the morning.  Better and better.  Biopsy results tomorrow.“

So it appears that Jim has graduated a week early from his weekly check ups and he gets to start driving earlier than expected too.  Wow, such great progress as today marks 4 weeks exactly post transplant surgery.

On October 28, about mid-morning, Jim received “The Call” that will forever change his life. After 101 days as a heart transplant candidate, Jim received his perfectly matched heart.

The call came while Jim was admitted at Saint Luke’s Heart Institute CICU due to a decreasingly functional heart and edema. The call alerted Jim to the fact that they had a probable heart, which was estimated to be a viable within the next 12 hours. While this created a long expectant ...