He Really Is A Miracle Of God

Jerry and Betty

This is our friend and next door neighbor, Jerry, and his wife, Betty.

Jerry and Betty have driven to Houston,Texas so many times that they have
worn out two vehicles and have grown to hate the sight of the green mile markers signs.
Unlike most transplant patients, Jerry didn't know he even needed a new heart
until his second bypass surgery in 1995. He traveled to Houston's Methodist Hospital to have the routine procedure,
thinking it would mean just a few hours in the operating room and short recovery stay.
But when doctors tried to restart his heart after surgery, nothing happened.
Immediately, Jerry was hooked up to a life-saving heart-lung machine; his name
was put at the top of the transplant list several days later with hopes a heart could be immediately located.
The wait was agonizing- as everyday Jerry remained
on the heart-lung machine meant he was one day closer to death.
Patients tethered to heart-lung machines for several days typically
develop brain damage and other complications.
After eleven days on the machine, doctors predicted
that even if they found a heart, Jerry would end up in a vegetative state.
Jerry and the Lord had other ideas. Just four days after appearing on the
transplant list, a heart was found and successfully transplanted,
allowing him to begin the long road to recovery.
"The Lord really provided for him," said, Betty, Jerry's wife of 49 years."
HIs case was very unusual in that he got a new heart so quickly.
And they tell us, when we go back to the hospital
,that he is the sickest person they ever doctored who lived."
Jerry's new heart came from an 18 year old asian male
who had been killed in a drive-by shooting as Jerry lay in the hosptial.
The victim's heart matched Jerry's chest cavity to the millimeter,
and the blood types matched prefectly as well.
Jerry believes the timing of the match was an act of God.
"There is no doubt in my mind that this was God's work," Jerry said.
" there could have been 50 hearts out there and none of them fit me,
but they found this one so quick and it was a prefect match."
After the tranplant, Jerry had to learn to live his life over again
-he couldn't walk or talk and everything that had been second nature
to him was now foreign. He began a physical therapy regime
that literally took him step by step through his recovery. Walk one step farther than the day before until he could walk normal again.
Just one year later he was at an Arkansas Razorback game,
standing in the bleachers, calling the Hogs. Jerry also resumed work around his home,
mowing his yard, raking leaves, working in his garden and going fishing, which he loves.
"He really is a miracle," Betty said,smiling.
" He's so active today and does just about whatever he wants to do.
It really is a miracle. Jerry is a retired firefighter. He's active as a deacon in his church
and is always doing something. He can't stand to be still.
The major problems with heart transplant patients is the risk of infection.
Most transplant patients do well the first year but there is always the risk of
rejection. Further risks come from powerful anti-rejection meds that can
damage vital organs if used too long. Jerry is on the minimal dose of anti-
rejection meds today, as his doctors have weaned him off over the years.
He walks two miles each day and takes care of himself.
This year is eleven years, Jerry has lived with someone's else's heart
and we're expecting many more. He goes to Houston
to have a check up each year and doesn't spend his time questioning how long he will live,
he just considers himself" Blessed by God" and thankful to be alive.
Jerry says" The reason I'm here today is the power of prayer"
and said" I feel great".