Life-saving gift for new dad

In 2020, Aaron Lee was a healthy 27-year-old man with a love of cycling who was excitedly preparing for the birth of his first child. But towards the end of that year, he unexpectedly became unwell.

Aaron went to the Emergency Department of his hospital in Perth with shortness of breath and, after extensive testing, was diagnosed with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Aaron was transferred to Perth’s Fiona Stanley Hospital, where he started treatment immediately, and doctors carried out tests to figure out the severity of his heart failure.

“The thought of transplant hadn’t even crossed my mind at that stage. I just thought my treatment would include a range of medications,” Aaron said.

Four days later – on Christmas Eve – Aaron’s wife went into labour.

“My son was born on Christmas Day amidst all the chaos. They let me travel to a different hospital about 40 minutes away to be there for his birth. I had to wear a defibrillator vest to make the trip,” said Aaron.

Aaron was on the transplant list for around 5 to 6 weeks, until…

“My condition was deteriorating, and I was told to go to the ICU. At 6 am the next day I received that life-changing call and was told they’d found a match for a transplant,” he said.

This life-saving gift of a new heart is one he is incredibly grateful for. A gift that has allowed him to spend precious time with his little boy.

“I often find myself looking up to the clouds, thinking about how thankful I am to receive this gift from a stranger and for their family for making that momentous decision.”

By supporting heart disease research through The Common Good, you’re helping dads like Aaron survive to see their children’s lives.

“This one’s for You”

Before he got sick, Zac was a regular teenage boy. He played cricket, football, rugby, soccer, ran cross country. Late one night, his Mum called the Home Doctor Service to treat a bout of tonsillitis for Zac. As he was leaving, the Doctor queried Zac’s heart murmur – a question that, after a series of follow up appointments, very much saved his life.

Zac was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition that reduces the heart’s ability to pump blood around the body. In the same month, he had a cardiac defibrillator implanted under his skin, and his first cardiac arrest during a treadmill stress test next to a cardiologist.

“It was exactly like in the movies where there was a big black hole with all my friends’ faces whizzing past, slowly getting smaller and smaller. It got to a small dot before it stopped and then my whole world sucked back into it. And that was me waking up and breathing again,” Zac recalls.

Zac had four more heart attacks before he was put on the heart transplant waiting list.

Zac’s mum Dionne remembers the exact moment he decided to ride for transplant research. “Prior to his transplant, he was in a very dark place. The doctor suggested he make some short and long-term goals for his mental health. We were sitting waiting for an appointment at the hospital and saw a poster promoting the Tour de Brisbane. He set that as a long-term goal, which at the time just seemed ridiculous,” Dionne remembered.

“Once he got the heart, it was on for young and old. He was chomping at the bit to get to the rehab gym. He had decided quite a bit earlier that he was going to give back and fundraise,” she said.

Since returning to the bike following his heart transplant, Zac has raised thousands of dollars for heart disease research each Tour de Brisbane.

“I do the tour de Brisbane for not only myself, but also for my donor. Every day that goes past is all thanks to them and I will make every day the best it can be. This one is for you,” Zac said.

By supporting The Common Good’s events like Tour de Brisbane, you’re helping heart disease researchers discover treatments and techniques that save lives – just like Zac’s.

The best news for newlyweds, Geoff and Roneen

Diagnosed with cardiomyopathy at 38, Geoff was enjoying life with the help of a pacemaker, until four years later when he had a cardiac arrest.

Geoff was now in end-stage heart failure and in need of a transplant. To save his life, he was fitted with two Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs), one for each side of his failing heart. These devices, although lifesaving, are not without their risks. Geoff suffered dangerous blood clotting with his first VAD and needed lifesaving surgery to implant a second one.

Thankfully, with the new device working with less complications, Geoff was able to leave the ICU. After thinking he’d spend his last days looking at the hospital ceiling, getting outside in the fresh air was an amazing moment. Most importantly, because he had a big occasion to attend – his wedding to Roneen, his fiancé of 14 years!

With the VAD batteries in a backpack, Geoff made it down the aisle on October 9, 2016. Twelve days later, the newlyweds received the news they were waiting for: a donor heart was available. 

There are important projects, supported by The Common Good, being undertaken by the ICETLAB to improve VADs and reduce their risks. With your donation, our researchers can continue to develop new technologies that ensure people like Geoff and Roneen can live happily ever after.