Cardiac Transplant Team, Delivering New Hearts

Six words changed Ben Meseke’s life.

After suffering 25 years with heart disease and deteriorating to the point where drying his hair and shaving left him weak and gasping for air, Meseke knew he was in bad shape. But only when his doctor said, “You have nine months to live,” did Meseke fully grasp how dire his condition was.

“I thought about my 11 grandkids—five are kindergarten and first grade age. I wondered, ‘Will they remember me?’” recalled Meseke, 63. “It really got to me. I thought, if I could just gain a few extra years, it could help them remember.”

Fate was on Meseke’s side. So was the cardiac transplant team at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute.

A winning team

Meseke was in good hands—some of the very best in the country.

At Saint Luke’s, every heart transplant patient’s care involves a dedicated, comprehensive team of professionals. This team includes 43 cardiologists, seven cardiac surgeons, transplant nurse coordinators, patient care nurses, respiratory therapists, dietitians, physical therapists, social workers, and chaplains.

To qualify for a new heart, Meseke underwent an intensive three-day evaluation of his physical and mental health.

“Our team is extremely thorough, and patients see every specialist you can imagine to determine whether they can support a new heart,” explained board-certified cardiologist Tracy Stevens, M.D.

For example, an infectious disease specialist quizzes patients about their travel abroad and exposure to diseases like malaria. An oral surgeon checks for gum disease and infection. And psychologists and social workers evaluate patients’ mental health and support system. Once qualified, the team lists patients for transplantation with the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) at a status level matched to their degree of illness. For instance, extremely ill patients receive “status 1A” as most urgent and are considered to be at the top of the list.

As Meseke was placed on the waiting list in January 2010, that ominous nine-month warning weighed heavily.

“When you’re in that situation,” said Meseke, “every minute counts.”

All in

Too weak to stand for long, Meseke had given up teaching math and coaching basketball at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in 2009.

His activity at home in Olathe was limited, and he napped five times daily. But on March 12, Meseke wanted a night out with wife, Klara, to watch a basketball game on the big screen at Harrah’s casino. It’s a date they won’t forget: Both hit jackpots, and Saint Luke’s called at 11 p.m.

“They said get here now, we have a pristine heart for you,” recalled Meseke.

By late afternoon the next day, Meseke had his new heart. He was walking within two days. And once he regained his physical strength, he was released. Surgeon Michael Borkon, M.D., performed Meseke’s heart transplant. He’s directed the Saint Luke’s transplant program for nearly 25 years and views each new patient as an opportunity to help give a second chance.

“I continue to be impressed with the dedication of our transplant team and the fact that we can make a real difference for patients with severe heart failure,” said Dr. Borkon. “Of course, without the incredible generosity of donor families, this gift wouldn’t be impossible.”

Heartfelt thanks

Today, Meseke has resumed teaching and coaching and enjoys chasing his grandkids through the sprinkler.

“You can’t imagine the happiness this gift has given my family and me,” he said. The Midwest Transplant Network facilitates communication between donor families and recipients, per strict guidelines. In November,Meseke received a letter from his 21-year-old donor’s mother.

“It was the most bittersweet moment of my life, and it took me 10 minutes to read the first line,” said Meseke, who found out Matthew was studying to be a teacher when he was killed in an automobile accident.

“She told me, ‘I want you to know, you got the best part of Matthew.’”

Learning intimate details about Matthew, like that he’d registered as an organ donor just three months before he died, overwhelms Meseke.

“I can’t help but think about the profound grief they feel,” he said. “Every day I think, ‘Look at the second chance they’ve given me.’ I now have the energy to live life. And I feel like Matthew is right there with me.”