I was devastated when I was told that I needed a heart transplant. I had been ill for about four months. I was in heart failure. I had all the symptoms. Shortness of breath, coughing, swollen hands, and feet, and I was constantly tired. I had cardiomyopathy, and needed a heart transplant to survive. A heart transplant! That was mind-boggling. I knew very little about transplants. I was born in South Africa, and when I was sixteen, Dr. Christian Barnard, performed the world’s first human heart transplant in Cape Town, South Africa.

I live in Missouri City, Texas, now, in close proximity to the Texas Medical Center and the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Houston.S unday, March 7, 1993, this is my re-birthday. At seven in the evening, my family and I were told the wonderful news. “We have a heart for you, Glenda.” What mixed emotions! We were delighted. I felt so good; you would have doubted that I was sick at all. But somewhere else another family had been told that their loved one was brain dead. That wonderful family agreed to donate the organs to save the lives of people they did not even know. Thank you! The surgery was routine and I recovered well. I have had no rejection.

I do have to take anti-rejection medications every twelve hours for the rest of my life. I was able to see both my daughters graduate from high school and go on to college. The older one graduated in December 2000, and was married in 2001. My husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary in 2002. Since my heart transplant, I have volunteered my time to educate the public about the need for organ donation. I also counsel and comfort those who are waiting for organs and their families.