Bob Carriere age 62 from Oklee received a heart transplant

In 1995 Bob Carriere, age 62, started having heart problems and ended up having a triple heart bypass and it lasted until 2002 and then he had to have the triple bypass again. After that he has had stents put in and then more recently he had a pace maker and defibrillator put in.

His heart was failing and in March 2016 he was sent to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis to be evaluated to get on the heart transplant list. They did a variety of testing that lasted 3 days and he was put on the transplant list.

On Nov. 21st, 2016 his heart was at its worst and he was airlifted from Thief River Falls to the University of Minnesota. He was again evaluated by the heart team and was then put at the top of the heart transplant list that day but was admitted to the hospital until a new heart came. He had a chance for a new heart three times but they didn't meet all the qualifications for him.

The donor matching process is done in the evaluation to get on the transplant list and it tests the size of your heart, your blood type and lots of other testing is done to determine the right match. He knew he was waiting for a young heart and his blood type was a common type so they hoped the chance of a new heart would come soon.

He waited 55 days in the hospital and on January 15, 2017 at 3:00 am he was told his new heart was coming. The transplant took place at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, it started that Sunday morning at 11:00 am and was completed around 5:00 p.m. that day. He woke up the following day and was doing great. He had a few complications that arose through the days at the hospital. He was released from the hospital 18 days after surgery and then was moved to an apartment near the hospital where he stayed with his wife Sue for about a month. They both finally came home to Oklee on March 4th, 2017.

It’s been a long process and lots of complications along the way. It took about 1 1/2 years to start feeling better and getting back to enjoying life again.

Bob's donor was a 21 year old named Ryan from Wisconsin and he is thought of everyday for his gift that he gave that day. Ryan choose to be an organ donor and that day he saved Bob's life.

A letter was sent to Life Source from Bob thanking his donors family for the gift of life he received and in Sept. 2017 Bob received a letter back from the donor family. Both families have been able to keep in touch with letters and thru Facebook and this summer the donor family saw that a Hero Hustle 5K for Organ, Eye, & Tissue Donor Awareness was being held at Oklee Market Day. Ryan's parents, Tim and Kim asked if they could be a part of the 5K and meet Bob and his family. On August 10th Tim and Kim came to Oklee and met Bob for the first time. The meeting was emotional and everyone was very excited to meet. They were such great people and the visit was wonderful.

It only takes a minute to sign up to be an organ donor, check the box on your drivers license renewal or sign up online at donatelife.com.