I was a really sick man. I was so short of breath, and my legs and feet were swollen all the time. My girls were babies, and I couldn’t even play outside with them or enjoy fun stuff with them, like go on vacation to the beach. I was considered a “walking dead man.” I was afraid of not being able to make memories with my family. Being on the waiting list made me anxious every time my phone would ring or when I had appointments. When I did get the “call,” I was stunned, shocked, in disbelief, but then thinking about it, I was sad for the donor’s family and what they were going through. I prayed for them.
After I received my transplant, a lot about my life has changed, especially with medicine because you have to make sure you always take your anti-rejection medication because it could be dangerous not to. I’m able to swim and take vacations with my family. Even being able to walk and do daily life activities is possible now, thanks to my transplant.
Since my transplant, I’ve also taken part in Peace Walks in honor of my donor. In 2024, I was able to walk my daughter around the softball field for her senior night, and I was able to watch her walk across the stage to graduate high school with very high honors. In the future, I’d like to attend concerts and go on more vacations with my family.
I reached out to the donor family within the first year around Thanksgiving 2014, and I did not hear anything back until May 2016. That’s when I was able to meet the family. It was a touching moment. The mother and the rest of the family were able to hear Antonio’s heartbeat through me over a loud speaker in the park. It has been a roller coaster going through the emotions with the family, including the loss of my donor’s mother, Anita Franklin, in February 2020. I still visit and stay in contact with the family. I know Antonio was a talented young man who loved sports and ran track. He had a heart of gold. If Antonio was here in front of me, I would give him such a big hug and thank him from the bottom of my heart for giving me the blessing of a second chance in life to be here with my wife and three daughters.
I live one day at a time because I know that tomorrow is never promised. Love today as if it’s your last!
