At 27-years of age Nambucca’s Jeff McDonald was doing whatever any other young father did – he led an active life, playing football and water skiing regularly.
However, little did he know, his love for sports and outdoor activity was killing him.
In his late 20s Jeff was diagnosed with
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – a condition where a portion of the heart muscle is abnormally thick, making it hard for blood to flow.
His condition also brings on arrhythmia, which causes the heart to pump less effectively.
Now 58, Jeff’s condition continues to
worsen, making him eligible to join the list of heart transplant recipients.
“When I was told, I questioned the doctor about whether I was sick enough to be on the (heart transplant) list,” Jeff said.
He was added to the list as a level 3 (level 4 being the highest) priority in February 2008.
However, after becoming severely ill with a bleeding bowel condition, Jeff was removed from the list.
While in hospital, Jeff was told to be
prepared to say goodbye to his family.
“If it was not for the expertise of Macksville hospital’s staff, I would be dead,” Jeff said.
His health scare with his bowel proved to Jeff just how fragile his body had become, and he accepted he was in fact “sick” enough to be eligible for the transplant – he wanted to be around to see his eldest son marry and to one day watch his grandchildren grow.
“I spent the next seven months getting well enough to get back on the list,” he said.
After almost nine months back on the
waiting list, Jeff was told his transplant may come in June or July, and he couldn’t be happier.
“Because my physical health has
deteriorated so much over the past few years, I have really been looking forward to getting it done and getting on with life,” Jeff said.
But it was his family and his faith that had kept him going this far.
Jeff’s wife Suzanne has been his strength throughout it all – a mum, a wife and a friend. Jeff said it had been just has hard for Suzanne.
Jeff’s deteriorating condition has meant he can no longer coach the junior cricket side, go along to soccer games with his son, mow the lawn, or even carry the groceries from the car to the house.
“It’s hard,” Suzanne said.
“But the hardest part is not knowing when (the operation will go ahead).”
While Jeff and Suzanne anxiously await news of the donor heart, they continue to raise
awareness of organ donation.
“Public awareness for organ donation is tragic,” Jeff said.
“I don’t think people realise that up to six
people can benefit from one donor.
“It is a sensitive subject – it is not always an easy time for family to consider donating their loved-one’s organs, but if it means saving a life...” Jeff said.
Currently there are not enough donors for the number of people needing a heart transplant, according to the Australian Heart Foundation.
In Australia, more than 100 people are waiting for heart transplants at any one time, often for up to two years.
“If something happened to me I would want my organs to be donated if it meant saving
someone’s life,” Jeff said. “I am happy to donate my heart for science,” he said.
“Anything to help the age of medical
advancement and to help others live a long life.”
Jeff’s own father passed away at age 31 from the same heart condition.
However, Jeff did not find out hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy was his father’s cause of death, or that it was a hereditary disease, until after his first two children were born.
Now a father of five, only one of his children (who was born before Jeff knew of the disease) inherited the condition.
“If mum had told me my same condition killed dad, I might not have had kids.
“But in hindsight I’m glad I didn’t know,” Jeff said.
“It hasn’t been a death sentence for me, and I’m nearly 58 and still going.
“I’m glad my dad had me, rather than not have had a chance at life at all; and I’m glad I had my children,” Jeff said.
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