By creator to www.wfla.com
TAMPA (WFLA) – The wait is lastly over for an Military veteran and father from Clearwater who desperately wanted a coronary heart transplant.
“I’m gonna do all the pieces I can to reside life and be worthy of that present that was given to me,” Hector Fernandez informed eight On Your Facet from his hospital mattress two days after the surgical procedure.
Fernandez, 49, put his life on the road serving within the U.S. Military for a decade from 1994 to 2004. It has been seven years because the father of 4 discovered he had a congenital heart defect from a gene mutation.
“We had been scared as a result of I wasn’t positive we’d get that transplant in time,” Fernandez mentioned.
The time was 2:50 within the morning final Saturday when a physician and two nurses at Tampa Basic Hospital informed Fernandez that his household’s prayers had been answered.
“They mentioned a donor coronary heart has been discovered, I instantly broke out in tears and mentioned, ‘my struggling is over,’” Fernandez mentioned.
By Sunday morning, he was within the working room after the donor coronary heart from a younger man in Alabama arrived.
“I began strolling 26 hours after the transplant and I by no means felt pretty much as good as I’ve in years,” Fernandez mentioned. “It’s a real miracle what they’ve finished for me at Tampa Basic.”
His spouse Amy has visited him every single day within the ICU. She mentioned she’s already noticing a distinction.
“Completely, he’s stronger his shade is healthier right this moment,” she mentioned. “Simply the power in his voice is healthier right this moment. He needed to do two laps across the unit the docs informed him no let’s wait.”
Since 8 On Your Side first shared his story on Veterans Day, Fernandez mentioned he’s acquired many donations to assist repay medical payments.
“I completely thanks for making that occur and all the parents at WFLA, so appreciative as a result of its taking an enormous burden of my thoughts,” Fernandez mentioned.
After this pivotal life altering second, Thanksgiving takes on a brand new which means for Fernandez 15 yr after shedding his mom to suicide.
“I had that cloud hanging over me each Thanksgiving vacation,” he mentioned, “however now its gone. I really feel like I’ve a brand new probability of life.”
Fernandez mentioned docs informed him he ought to keep at TGH for one more two to 3 weeks, so he ought to be house along with his spouse and youngsters in Clearwater earlier than Christmas.
— to www.wfla.com
