CNN's Poppy Harlow talks to Patrick Holland, a 57-year-old Alaska man battling congestive heart failure, who says last week's winter storm that battered much of the US and led to thousands of flight cancellations cost him the opportunity to get a heart transplant.
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Cancelled because of bad weather which made flying unsafe.
Damn, I hope he finds another eventually.
Weather can have a big effect on medical treatment. This is something that those in the cancer world watch as treatments can last a while for chemo and radiation. One of my coworkers who was on chemo died because his hospital was unavailable for chemo treatments spring 2020 due to the pandemic. He didn’t die from COVID, he died from inability to get treatment.
You may need to travel for advanced treatments (for surgeries, chemo, etc.) and you have to watch the weather forecast. I imagine that the notice is rather short for heart transplants. If the weather is a problem, then there can be delays at the hospital for the doctors and staff to get to the hospital to perform your procedure.
We had really bad weather before one of my surgeries so I stayed at a hotel before the surgery so I didn’t have weather travel risk before surgery. It is scary when weather affects your treatment.
I recall the discussions on my cancer forum around the time of the Houston flooding and people who were being treated at MD Anderson were having a hard time as the hospital had to close for a while. This sort of thing can happen anywhere.
When I was going through chemo, I talked to the other people, in the transfusion room, and asked those who lived in rural areas how they managed. Some drove in two, to five hours, each way, every other week. Many others took advantage of the RVs the hospital owned, and kept in their parking lot. Others rented a room, at a nearby extended-stay motel. Those just lived near the hospital for four months. Of course, that doesn’t help when the hospital has turned its transfusion room into an auxiliary ICU.
That’s very sad. I hope he can receive another soon.
Same! Hoping very soon.
That’s heart breaking
Wow
Love his attitude 👍👌♥️
I wish I could give him my heart, I am alone I am not complaining but he is not, he has a daughter. So If I could I would give him mine.
Me too
Praying for you Sir to get your heart transplant. How utterly gut wrenching to miss this opportunity
When I found out my hubby would need to go on dialysis in 1996 I made a decision to move to Los Angeles, CA. to avoid dealing with Snow storms in Chicago, Il.
So which is worse, the seasonal snow in Chicago, or the constant traffic jam on the 405 and 101?
That’s so tragic, that would be my freaking luck too I bet. I hope he gets another chance before he runs out of time. Maybe for the winter he should stay in Washington if that’s at all possible.
I am very sorry for you , I hope next time works well for you
It’s sad but how many people over the past 3 years missed transplants due to covid, that could have went forward but health officials lied.
Such a difficult story to view…Wishing Patrick good fortune in the near future finding his heart.
All my love to Patrick. Somewhat different, but my living donor live transplant was cancelled March 13, 2020 when COVID lockdowns began. It was deemed non-essential as my living donor (my uncle) didn’t need the surgery to save his life, just mine. May another, much stronger heart find it’s way to you with ease.
Hearing him choke up when telling the story really broke me
This is heartbreaking. I’m so sorry to hear this and I hope that they will find a match for you very soon.
Thoughts and prayers to you and your family!
My sons heart went to a man in 2016…so did 4 others receive his major organs.. Hugs to this man
May God bless you sir with a new heart at the turn of the new year.
Sending you much love,prayers and be gentle with yourself because every day is full of ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. Ask & you shall receive my friend.
Peace and Blessings
🙏❤️