Melissa’s story update

Without my heart transplant, I would have died from inherited cardiomyopathy. Years later, I am dedicated to living my life for two hearts.

Dear You,

My name is Melissa.

I am a daughter, a sister, a wife, an aunty, and a godmother. I’m also a survivor. For 16 years I battled inherited dilated cardiomyopathy until finally, my heart couldn’t fight anymore. I was told I was in end-stage heart failure, and I needed to be put on the transplant list for a new heart.

In February 2016, I received the greatest gift of all – a new heart.

The recovery, both physically and emotionally, was incredibly hard.

I was in St Vincent’s Hospital for 6 months after the transplant. As grateful as I am, my new heart and I didn’t have the best beginning to our relationship. I was the Queen of infection and rejection. I had my sternum cracked 3 times and I needed a replacement tricuspid value.

Lying in a hospital bed that I couldn’t imagine ever leaving, I questioned everything that was happening to me, my body and most of all my heart.

I was grieving a complete stranger and a family I would never meet. I wanted to comfort them. I wanted them to know that on the other side, my parents would be looking after them until we could all meet again. I wanted to be able to say thank you and put a face or a name to the person who had made me their last act of kindness.

As sick as I was, I knew that I couldn’t continue like this and that I needed to live an honest and truthful life, one that my donor would be proud of. I wanted to live a life for two hearts.

So I created a bucket list, not knowing what my donor might have had on theirs. No item was too big or too small for the bucket list, I just wanted to honour them the best that I could.

Since my transplant, I have been busy checking off my list.

I have seen snowfall for the first time and got to build a snowman. I have walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, presented the game ball at an FFA Cup match for the Western Sydney Wanders and Donate Life.

And I have travelled to places I only dreamed of seeing when I was sick. On my first transplant anniversary, my sister-in-law, Marissa and I flew over Heart Reef at the Great Barrier Reef. On my 2nd transplant anniversary, I married my best friend and soul mate, Simon.

Next on my list to check off, I would love to visit Paris and see the Eiffel Tower. And to go back to heart reef and actually swim around it to celebrate my 10^th transplant anniversary. And that’s to name just a few, I have years to catch up on after all.

I celebrate my donor on the 27th of every month, even if it’s just lighting a candle, dancing around the lounge room or having a special dinner. It’s the least I can do.

Thanks to my organ donor, and researchers at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, my husband and my family, I have received six extra years of time, filled with cherished moments and love I was never meant to receive. I’m loved, I’m proud and most of all I am here.

I never want to take the gift I was given for granted. Living my life to the fullest is my way of saying thank you.