Thursday, Zack had appointments at CMH. Around 2:45 Friday morning, they received the call that he was getting his new heart. Packing began and preparations to return to CMH by 7 AM. Friday, the day was spent signing consents, meeting a four-legged friend and team members, along with getting prepared for surgery that was expected around 7 PM and would take 10-12 hours. Within an hour and half to two hours before the surgery was scheduled, it was pushed back to 8 PM. Zander was able to come for a visit before Zack was taken to surgery and the team gave Zack a monkey to take with him.

Zack was taken back to surgery at 8. Clamp was placed on donor heart at 10:05. Zack is doing well. First incision was just made to start removing his heart and placing him on heart bi pass machine. His new heart should be in KC at 12:30 AM to start stitching in. At 12:26 AM, word came that his new heart had arrived. About 2:26 AM, the clamp had been removed from Zack’s heart and it was beating on its own. An hour later, he was off bypass, waiting for an echo and then they would begin closing.

Saturday morning update at 4:30: Starting to close up now- the ischemic time (from donor to Zack) was 3 hours 52 minutes which is phenomenal! He will be in OR for another couple hours then back to cardiac icu. The tranplant coordinator reports that he has done “remarkably well”. The next few days will be critical. He will be intubated and sedated for approximately another 48 hours then hopefully start to remove drains and some support. Days 4-5 are the most painful. Our new journey has just begun and we are so overjoyed for Zack and the new potentials that have been gifted to him!!!!

7:30 AM update: The surgeon is happy. We are now pacing his heart (not unexpected). He looks great. He will be sedated and intubated for a couple days. Thank you again for such amazing love for our Zack!

Saturday 4:30 PM update: Zack is doing well. Everything as expected. We are pacing his heart now (not uncommon as the heart was cold/ice and now working again). With the high steroids and anti-rejection medications he is now on insulin drip. We will also start lasix drip to get the excessive fluid from surgery off. All these are expected. He looks really good. He opened his eyes a few times. We are overwhelmed by God’s grace, provision and healing! And also by your expression of love for our Zack! Zander is doing well also. He is staying with my parents for now. He saw Zack before surgery and would like to wait until he has some support removed before seeing him again -which we fully support.