Transplant Type - Heart

We are thrilled to report that Kevin received his heart transplant on March 27, 2011!

Kevin cannot remember a time when he wasn't considered a "heart patient." Between the ages of 5 and 23, he underwent five open-heart surgeries. Eventually, in 1992, he received a heart transplant. Although his new heart worked well for many years, Kevin began feeling very weak in 2008. After a few months of testing, Kevin learned he had developed coronary artery vasculopathy.

Doctors told him another heart transplant was his only hope for a second chance at life, and he was added to the transplant waiting list in 2009. While awaiting his transplant, he had a PICC line in his arm 24 hours a day for nearly a year. It required careful upkeep and in-home nurse care to administer medication through that line every two days.

Throughout these challenges, Kevin relied on his faith to keep a positive outlook on life. He looks forward to spending many more years with his wife, Kelly, his daughter, Christina, his sons Sam and Joe, and his young grandson.

A heart transplant costs approximately $750,000. And that's only the beginning. Even with health coverage, Kevin still faces significant medical expenses. For the rest of his life, he will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. The cost of post-transplant medications can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month--and they are as critical to his survival as the transplant itself.

Although he worked many years as a helicopter mechanic, he has been unable to work since December 2008 due to his health, adding to the financial strain.

You can help.
To make a donation to NFT in honor of Kevin, click the link below his photo. If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the NFT Texas Heart Fund, 5350 Poplar Avenue, Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119. Please be sure to write "in honor of Kevin Spencer" on the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

Patient Health Institute: St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital