In 2024, 60-year-old Brenda thought she was dealing with nothing more than gas pains. But a sudden trip to the emergency room revealed the truth.
“They told me I was having a heart attack,” she recalled. “After that, they airlifted me to Greenville and put me on a balloon pump. I only had 10% heart function.”
When Brenda learned she would need a heart transplant, she was devastated.
“I didn’t know it was that bad,” she said. “I was really stressed. I had so much to live for—my daughter, my brothers. We’re all so close. I love God, so praying helped me a lot, and I had my spiritual family praying for me.”
After six months on the transplant list, Brenda was transferred to Duke, just in the nick of time.
“They told me that if I hadn’t gotten there when I did, I would have died,” she said. “The staff at Duke were awesome. They really took care of me and became like family. Within seven days of being there, I received my heart on October 17.”
Her surgery was a success, and three weeks later, she was discharged.
“The doctor said, ‘You’re doing good, it’s time to go and live your life,’” Brenda laughed. “I was like, ‘Don’t put me out too soon, now!’”
Now, a year later, Brenda is back at work and embracing a new outlook on life.
“I’ve been eating right, exercising, and the whole experience really increased my faith,” she said. “I’m so grateful for being alive, and for being able to tell my story.”
Recently, Brenda wrote a letter to her donor’s family to share her gratitude.
“I told them thank you for giving me their loved one’s heart,” she said. “I would love to meet them, so they can hear my heart beat. I just want to be part of their life. I see my transplant as a blessing from God.”
Before her transplant, Brenda wasn’t registered as an organ donor. But since receiving her second chance at life, both she and her daughter have changed their status. Now, she encourages others to sign up, too.
“You can save someone’s life,” she urges. “It’s a blessing to families. It’s been a HUGE blessing to mine!”
Looking ahead, Brenda hopes to travel abroad and continue “being a blessing” to everyone she meets. To those still waiting for a transplant, she offers words of encouragement:
“Stay focused, keep praying, try not to worry, and think positive. It’s going to work out. You can’t give up—you’ve got to keep going. Stay strong.”
Did you know? 75 or more lives can be saved and healed by one organ, eye, and tissue donor. Sign up today!