Miracle heart still beating strong three decades on
(L-R) Clare Fazackerley, Rod, Professor Robert Larbalestier and wife Roxy
Last Thursday, Rod Western celebrated his 65th birthday.
On the same February day thirty years ago, Rod received the best birthday present he could've ever asked for – a new heart.
The call to say he would be receiving the life saving gift meant Rod and his wife Roxy were soon leaving Esperance on a Royal Flying Doctor Service flight to Perth.
Rod was about to become the very first recipient to undergo heart transplant surgery in Western Australia.
The transplant was the start of his new life, and an end to the blackouts and shortness of breath caused by dilated cardiomyopathy.
"It's been pretty damn good, a full circle moment really," Rod said.
"Hard to believe it's still going strong - we didn't expect to get 30 years."
Rod has packed a lot into those three decades - working full time as a property manager, taking up photography, enjoying life with his wife Roxy by his side, watching his children grow up and get married before going on to become parents themselves.
"We've now got eight grandchildren and we feel very lucky that Rod has been given the precious gift of time to be part of their lives," Rod's wife Roxy said.
"That wouldn't have been possible without our amazing support network which includes the dedicated transplant team at Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) who've been with us every step of the way," Roxy said.
"They're like family now."
FSH Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Service Nurse Practitioner, Clare Fazackerley, said it's been an honour to be part of Rod's journey.
"The median expected life span of a transplanted heart is around 15 years and Rod has doubled that," Clare said.
"That's because he's been part of the team over the last thirty years to achieve the best possible medical outcomes.
"It's always a privilege to share in the lives of my patients as they go from being very sick to being able to do all the things we take for granted like breathing and walking.
"I get a front row seat to watch their transplant transformation and for people like Rod – our very first heart recipient – it's been incredibly special to see how far he's come."
This week Rod and Roxy joined Clare and FSH Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery Professor Robert Larbalestier, who performed Rod's historic transplant surgery, to mark the 30th anniversary of his ‘perfect fit’ heart.
The milestone celebration is an opportunity for Rod to reflect on the past thirty years and the very precious gift of a life well lived.
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