Michael Silverman: “Heart To Heart”

Mike Silverman spoke to us about his experience as a heart transplant recipient. With him today were his main supporter, most-patient-partner Masha, as well as daughter Sheryl Lintner and her twins, Lauryn and Kendra. Mike said he felt the success of the operation was due in great part to the their support and that of the rest of his family, plus the support and prayers of club members and friends.

Most of all, he wished to express his deep gratitude to the family of the donor. Their identify is protected, but at some point he hopes to be able to do so in person. He is using his new lease on life to encourage us all to consider being an organ donor, citing the many whose lives can be saved. In June there were 99,000 candidates hoping for a heart, 4,846 in Illinois (3500 having waited over a year). Mike’s story testifies to the life and death situations faced by many. The previous designations on licenses are no longer valid, so contact the Secretary of State’s www.lifegoeson.com.

The cause of Mike’s problem was an aneurysm 26 years ago, after which ¼ of his heart was removed. He said his heart had been laboring for the last 4-5 years and was in failure for the last two. He was sick, but not in such imminent, dire straights to be at the top of the list. He went through unsuccessful chemo trials to correct an antibody problem likely to bring about rejection. As he phrased it, it was a matter of choosing risk -- between letting himself get more sick in order to more readily qualify or trying to live a reasonably active life. He received a heart on December 4, the first night of Hanukkah – what a gift!

Events leading up to the operation were remarkable, too – when a heart became available, the first person on the list had a fever and wasn’t suitable at that time. The second didn’t want to venture out on a snowy night. Then, at the hospital, there was waiting for the donor family to say good-bye. Mike goes through biopsies monthly to test for rejection since the nerves to his heart have been disconnected.

He is looking forward to continuing to contribute. Said his granddaughter to a friend’s question, “Sure he’ll still love me with a new heart: he has two, one for living and one for loving.”