The List

 Mike is currently at a Level 6 

What does a Level 6 mean? Check it out....

1. You are critically ill and need support from 

        *A heart bypass machine call extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

        *Temporary devices to support both sides of the heart that prevent you from leaving the hospital

or you have:

        * A heart pump called a VAD and you have a life-threatening heart rhythm

2. You are critically ill and need support from:

        *A temporary device to support one side of your heart that prevents you from leaving the hospital

        *An intra-arterial balloon pump that helps to support the work of your heart

        *An invasive (implanted) line that contains a pump to help support the work of your heart

or you have:

        *A VAD that is not working well

        *A severe, life-threatening heart rhythm

        *Any type of heart support and you only have one ventricle

3. You are critically ill and need multiple intravenous medications and invasive monitoring

        *or you have a VAD and are using you "30 days"

        *or you have a VAD complication lie an infection, a clot in the pump, right heart failure, or severe, repeated bleeding

4. You have one of the following things:

        *A VAD

        *A need for IV medications, but you do not need to stay in the hospital

        *A need for another heart transplant

        *A diagnosis of

            Congenital heart disease, Ischemic heart disease with chest pain, Hypertrophic or restrictive cardiomyopathy, or amyloidosis

5. You need a heart transplant with another organ transplant

6. You don't meet any of the above criteria (but your heart is bad)

7. You are inactive on the waiting list 

The lists is divided up between heart transplant centers, there are three in Michigan: UofM, Detriot, and Spectrum in Grand Rapids. There between 35 and 45 people on the list at a time for each center. Whenever we leave our 400 mile radius we will have to be moved to the Level 7 inactive status, once we are back we get put back on the list that the level we were at. I say we, as it is the whole family going through this...yes Mike gets the heart and has to bare the most of it, but we are all walking through this together. 

Basically Level 1 needs a heart within weeks, Level 2 needs a heart within months, and Level 3 is waiting in the hospital for a heart for months on end. Ones, twos, and threes get hearts. Even with all the medications that Mike is on his heart will continue to decline and he will get to these levels. We just don't know when that will be, my guess is that within the next three years he will get a new heart. Why do I say this? The doctor said three years has been the longest someone has waited on the list. These levels I am afraid of the most...the unknown. How long will he be in the hospital and away from home? How sick will he get? When will this happen?

Mike has some hurdles in getting a new heart. He is O+ which is the universal giver but not the universal receiver. Which means that he can only take a heart with O+ blood. If you have never met Mike you may not understand the next one. Mike is a big guy, a tall guy, a guy that needs a big heart. So Mike will need a big male O+ heart...almost as rare as he is! 

It will take some time to find a heart for Mike. This is also a really hard fact for me to swallow, someone has to die for Mike to get a heart, not just someone but the right someone. A family has to lose a loved one for me to gain more time with my loved one. It is a gift that will never be forsaken and we will cherish forever and forever. 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. 

Life will very different before and after transplant. The whole thing is a life changing event. Diets will change, immune systems will change, medications will change, and hopefully a life together will be changed forever and for longer.