A new heart for organ donors

WHEN Charles Ferguson collapsed on the rugby field during a match in 2012, he realised that something was wrong with his heart. With a new heart, he survives today thanks to an organ donor.

“The donor is the real hero of this story,” said Ferguson.

He and his family now encourage others to become organ donors.

“All of us are organ donors, you don’t know where the heart, lung or kidneys are going but you know they can save someone that is near death. You can save seven lives,” said wife, Lisa.

“We were brought up believing that if you have flu, you should go for a run and sweat it out. That’s exactly what I did. I’ve been active and playing sport all my life. I mainly played rugby and I was always running, always in the gym,” said Ferguson who believes he damaged his heart by exercising when he was sick.

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I was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart. My heart was put under strain. Once it is enlarged, it doesn’t beat as hard as a normal sized heart, it sort of flaps,” he said.

“The heart was scared and it doesn’t go back to its normal size. The damage was permanent,” added Lisa.

He was on medication for 20 years.

“Every couple of years, my heart was getting worse and worse and doctors were upping the dosage. In May, 2012 it got so bad that I had a defibrillator put in and told I needed to go on the waiting list for a transplant. I kept having these mild episodes where I would collapse. One on the tennis court, one in the gym, one at work,” said Ferguson.

“In February, 2016 he had an episode in the car while driving. It made us realise he could have one at any moment. That’s when the doctors told us he was on death’s door and needed a new heart. We never knew if he was going to survive – that was the trauma that my children and I went through, All the time, his heart was weakening,” said Lisa.

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The defibrillator had a two phase function, said Ferguson.

“One was that it could detect when my heart was under strain and it would try to put my heart back into rhythm and then if my heart stopped, it would give me an electric shock,” he said.

Ferguson had a heart transplant on 25 August 2016 when he was 52. The transplant came after two ‘missed calls’ in 2014 and 2015.

“We waited for four years, once he was on the list for a transplant. When you get that call, its a surreal, highly emotional experience, but at the same time there’s a feeling of hope, you’re elated that your chance has come. You’re in shock actually. You think about organising your life because you don’t know if you’re going to make it or how long it will be until you can deal with work again,” said Lisa.

“I think the first call was worse. My mind was racing with every small detail thinking of what I needed to do. To the smallest nth degree I was worrying about things at work. When I did go for the transplant on the third call, I was a lot calmer, and more prepared. I can’t remember any pain. I get quite emotional. The hospital staff were amazing,” said Ferguson.

“It lives with you forever,” added Lisa.

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