Andrea Cunningham from Nixa recently shared her family’s story with 5 On Your Side’s Annie Krall after green lights in Dogtown were illuminated to honor her husband Jim, who underwent a life-saving heart transplant surgery. Jim had been struggling with heart failure since 2016 and had been receiving care from BJC Healthcare before eventually receiving the transplant. The surgery was performed by cardiothoracic surgeons Dr. Amit Pawale and Dr. Muhammad Masood.
The ‘Light It Green’ event was held to commemorate the successful surgery and honor the donor whose heart now beats in Jim’s chest. The CEO of Mid-America Transplant, Kevin Lee, highlighted the importance of organ donation and the impact it can have on saving lives. The Family House in St. Louis, where the Cunninghams are staying during Jim’s recovery, has hosted over 220 families since its expansion in 2022.
Andrea expressed gratitude for the donor family’s selfless act, acknowledging the difficult decision they had to make. With this new heart, Jim now has a renewed chance at life, including being able to attend future life events with his family, such as walking his daughter down the aisle and seeing his son graduate high school.
The family’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of organ donation, with 17 Americans dying every day while waiting for a transplant. BJC Healthcare encourages individuals to consider becoming an organ donor to save lives and improve the quality of life for many others in need. For more information on how to become a donor, visit the BJC Organ Donation website.
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Photo credit www.ksdk.com