“In 1995, I was only 41, but I was always tired, and I couldn’t’ keep up with my youngest son, who was a toddler at the time. I’ve had cardiomyopathy since childhood, but this was the first time I had symptoms. My doctor referred me to UAB, and they told me I needed a heart transplant.”

“I knew I was born with a heart condition from the time I was very, very young. It’s called idiopathic hypertrophic sub-aortic stenosis (IHSS), or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. I never had problems as a child with that, although one of my brothers died of it when he was only 11 years old and I was eight. He was just outside playing and collapsed. After that, my mom was very protective of me and my three other siblings. We didn’t play any contact sports knowing our condition. “I didn’t have any problems until I was around 37 years old. I have been looking all my life for the symptoms, and they started actually showing up when I had my last child. I was short of breath, always tired, my blood pressure was high and my ankles started swelling. I had such a low energy level, I couldn’t do a whole lot – I couldn’t keep up with my youngest, who was a toddler at the time. I made an appointment to see my physician beacuse of my symptoms. My condition developed into chronic cardiomyopathy, and my heart was extremely large and weak.”

“All my life I’ve had check-ups with cardiologists, and they told me that one day, chances are, I would have problems with my condition. My doctor in Tuscaloosa said, ‘You have young children - I want you to live, you’re too young to die. With this condition, you could.’ So he referred me to Dr. Bourge at The Kirklin Clinic® at UAB. After the doctors evaluated me, they said that I needed a heart transplant.

“My condition was so serious they admitted me into the hospital. They put me on a diet, and I lost 35 pounds – part of that was water weight because I was in congestive heart failure. They put me on new medications, and I did a complete turnaround, I felt so much better. I felt wonderful, energetic, and even questioned whether I really needed a transplant. But the doctors said, ‘We need to get you a heart because yours is failing.’

“The doctors were nice and caring, and my transplant coordinators, they were very nice, too. So when it was time for me to get the heart transplant, I trusted them, and I said, ‘Let’s go for it.’ And here I am today.

“After I received my treatment from UAB, the first thing I did, I immediately brought my two of my oldest children up to Dr. Bourge for treatment. They have been seeing Dr. Bourge every year as a follow-up. It is to protect them, and I do have peace of mind right now, I do. I really do trust UAB. And I really love and admire Dr. Bourge.”

“Knowing my condition, several times people have said to me, ‘Well, you know, I have fluttering, and my ankles are swelling, and I feel like I have a heart problem.’ I tell them, "Everybody has different symptoms, so you need to go see a specialist. You need to find out. You don’t need to sit around and guess and think that you have heart disease. You need to go and get yourself checked. And that way, you will know what to do and how to treat it, because you can live a active, productive, happy, and wonderful life knowing what you have and having control over it.’

“I’ve had a complete turnabout since my heart transplant, and it gets better with each day. I got a second chance at life. Every single day, all day, I think about the blessing I received - this wonderful gift of life.

“It used to be a task just to walk; now I don’t think anything about it. Now I am active in the community, and in Boys’ Club with my 16-year-old son, and in church. I even received the Mother of the Year award for the Boys' Club. I get up at six and see my son off to school. He’s very active, involved in band and choir and a lot of activities.

“I get my exercise and do a lot of walking. I check my blood pressure every day. I follow my diet – I enjoy healthy foods anyway. I take my medications on time and do exactly what my doctor tells me to do. I have never missed an appointment, because even if you’re on your medication and you stick with your diet, you still may have problems.

“UAB has taken very good care of me, all the doctors; I really trust what they say. I give the credit to God, UAB and myself. When I tell people I have had a heart transplant and have to take all that medication, sometimes they say, ‘I’m so sorry’ and I say, ‘I’m not!’”