Jason's Heart & Liver Transplant Journey

Happy fathers Day Dads! I got the best gift. Today I gained a son-in-law! My (step) daughter married the best person ever. Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Conrad Casente!

Awesome.

Small pump for kids awaiting heart transplant shows promise in Stanford Medicine-led trial A new type of surgically implanted pump that can support a child’s failing heart has passed the first stage of human testing in a Stanford Medicine-led trial.

We had an awesome Mother’s Day yesterday with our friends exploring Busch Gardens amusement park. Jen and I rode all the rides, laughed hysterically and just lived such an amazing day. Thank you Shaun Griffith and wife for driving and being our tour guide. We really enjoyed the day.

Today I received a letter from my cardiologist in Roseville, CA stating he was resigning. The letter goes on to say;
"This decision comes after much discernment about my professional life and how to most effectively serve my vocation during the last 1/3 of my career. I am in good emotional, physical and sh*titual heart wit the full support of my wife and family. Tis is a deliberate pause in order to reevaluate my life as a physician and to give myself space to reimagine how to be in the world as a cardiologist."

My response:
"My dear Dr. Peters,
Before you go, let me thank you so much for your service. As a medical anomaly I have dealt with many cardiologist through out my life and you have by far made the most impact in my life. From my first introduction to you in which you "insist I call you Stephen as you will learn as much from me as I will you" to you being the catalyst in my Heart & Liver transplant 5 years ago. My gratitude and overwhelming glow when I talk about you to others as I share my story is beyond any adoration you can fathom. I wish you well in your endeavors and pray you find peace in the knowledge of the lives you have touched and saved. Thank you for being an active role in my life."

My new favorite cereal! Maple Cinnamon Cheerios Hearty Nut Medley. I like mine with Oat Milk!

My son, Corbin Crutchley is so amazing. He is a self taught programmer/developer who exceeds any expectations I’ve ever had. Here he is again, this time with his own book! Congratulations son, I’m so proud of you.

The Framework Field Guide A practical and free way to teach Angular, React, and Vue all at once, so you can choose the right tool for the job and learn the underlying concepts in depth.

Thank you all for the birthday wishes. It made for an amazing day!

3 years ago my cousin (in-law) Lisa Tremblay Carter made these amazing vehicle decals. Today, with the help of my wife Jenifer Crutchley they installed them.
Thank you ladies so much! Great way to celebrate the end of a perfect weekend!

Happy Heart month! May yours be full, happy & healthy.

Here we go friends, the official findings of my biopsy:

Heart (Specimen #1); Biopsy:
- No acute cellular rejection, ISHLT grade 0R.
- No antibody-mediated rejection, pAMR0, see comment.

And from the heart cath:
1. Normal right heart filling pressure.
2. Normal left heart filling pressure.
3. Normal cardiac output and index by Fick and thermodilution.
4. No evidence of pulmonary hypertension.
5. Normal systemic arterial pressure.
6. Successful endomyocardial biopsy x3
7. No change in the right atrial pressures post biopsy.

This past weekend has been very emotional for me. Friday I had a right heart Cath and biopsy, all of which went very smoothly. Although we are still waiting on the results of the biopsy, all the pressures in my heart look really good.
Saturday marked the 7th year of the loss of my mother which brought me many memories to reflect upon. Saturday also marked the 5th anniversary of “the call” I received for my new organs
Sunday (today) is my 5th birthday. That is to say, it’s been 5 years since my heart & liver transplant. In that time, thanks to a stranger I have been able to continue my life and do the following:
* Ran a 5k for the first time
* Married my wife
* Changed professions to Maintenance Tech from 25 years as a chauffeur specializing in wine tours.
* Started and successfully ran ACHD Support Group in Sacramento
* Kayaked across Lake Tahoe
* Mentor several transplant candidates and families
* Survived COVID twice
* Moved cross country
* Spoke at ACHD patient day in Chicago about self advocacy
* attended a self advocacy Confrence in Washington DC with Global Liver Institute
* Participated in multiple podcasts including:
1. Transplantation in the CHC community- The CHC podcast
2. Thriving after heart and liver transplant with Jason Crutchley- The Heart Chamber Podcast
3. Town Hall Meeting: Feeling Different- The CHC Podcast
* Wrote a chapter in the book “Heart of A Heart Warrior”
* Had absolutely zero rejection of either organ
* Learned how to MIG and stick weld

So what’s next? I have so many plans and things I want to do. Let me start by saying I have begun to write my memoirs which I hope to turn into a book. When I say begun I mean please don’t expect anything for a while. It’s a slow process for me for many reasons.
I hope to take and share my experience to so many more places speaking every opportunity I can. I honestly would like to get out of maintenance not because I don’t enjoy the job or even where I work but rather because of the abuse it does to my body. I really want to find work that is not as physically demanding (always open to sugggestions 😉)! I want to travel more and stress less. Lastly and more importantly, I want to continue to serve my Heavenly Father thru His will.

You guys watching Israel?!
The Bible says the first time God destroyed the earth by water and he promised to never do that again. (The real meaning of the Rainbow) he went on to say I will destroy it by fire the second time. I won’t even pretend I understand all of the book of Revelation, but I do understand quite plainly that I do wish to spend eternity in Heaven. I have been hearing about the second coming of Christ and the events unfolding since I was a child. The "Mark of the Beast" Artificial Intelligence, microchips, no cash/digital currency, total government dependency/control. When we are raising a family, working long hours, some two jobs, lots of things go unnoticed or just get ignored. No one can comprehend how bad it will be, but we see it happening, bit by bit, on the news everyday. While the devil is preparing people for the Anti Christ, God is preparing people for the Rapture. I don’t know when the rapture will take place but I know that I’m not planning to be left behind when that trumpet sounds! I also believe right now that God is giving us a chance to turn our lives around and live according to His will. We need to get the Gospel message out! Until the good Lord calls me away from this world to go home, I want to make it clear that I believe in Jesus Christ as the one and only true Lord and Savior. Despite the fact that I AM HUMAN, and I FAIL ALOT, I believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
This is the best challenge I have seen on Facebook, so if the Holy Spirit moves you and you’re not ashamed, just COPY, and make this your status update. I’m a believer in God The Father, Jesus The Son, and The Holy Spirit Amen. 🙏
Have you accepted His gift? 🎁

When you’re allergic to all adhesives but they still need to get the EKG. Photo taken 10 hours after procedure.

Today was a day of tests for my annual. I thought it was only 2 appointments and I would be done within 2 hours…wrong!
Started off with an echo, then 3D imaging of my heart with nucular medicine that opens all my vessels. Followed that with a stress test and lastly another 3D imaging. Total time? 6 hours.
I’m not looking forward to the bill but this is considered part of my annual as I fast approach 5 years post transplant. I will do these test again in 2 years.

I’m not a big bumper sticker kind of guy, but these fit me!

Today is the 56th anniversary of the first successful heart transplant.

Jen and I joined my coworker and his wife today at their church! We loved it. I cried most of the service because of the message today that I felt Jen really needed to hear.

“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 hope and a future.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬

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 hope and a future. | New International Version (NIV) | Download The Bible App Now 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 hope and a future.

Apparently, when a person is no longer in need of their pacemaker, whether they’re advancing in their need for treatment or unfortunately passing away, they can let it be known that it is their wish that their pacemaker be donated TO A 🐕 DOG!!! Pacemaker are legally unable to be donated to other humans, but they are always removed in instances of cremation due to the risk of explosion at high temperatures. This may save dog owners the cost of the actual device ( thousands of dollars) and extend the life of someone’s beloved older canine companion. Before I needed a transplant, I went through 5 pacemakers in about 7-8 years and I would have happily donated them had I known!!!

If you are no longer in need of a pacer, think about our faithful friends out there….

Having a handicap license pass displayed on my mirror I parked and got out of the car, I had this lady say to me, "well, you look perfectly normal to me!", as I turned to look at her and said, very seriously, "maybe that's part of the problem, you can't see what's lurking under my shell." The look on her face was priceless! Just because YOU can't SEE it doesn't mean it doesn't exist! Until you have walked in our shoes and have felt the pain we feel, keep your cruel and ignorant comments and opinions to yourself. I'm posting to stop people from mocking and laughing at people for things beyond their control...

Not one of my Facebook friends will copy and paste (but I am counting on a true family member or friend to do it). If you would be there no matter what then copy and paste this. I'm doing this to prove a friend wrong that someone is always listening. I care.

Hard to explain to someone who has no clue. It's a daily struggle being in pain or feeling sick on the inside while you look fine on the outside.

Please put this as your status for at least 1 hour if you or someone you know has an invisible illness (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), IBS, Crohn's, PTSD, Anxiety, Arthritis, Cancer, Heart Disease, Bipolar, Depression, Diabetes, Lupus, Fibromyalgia, MS, AS, ME, , Epilepsy, hereditary angioedema , Migraines,Muscular Dystrophy , Hashimotos, AUTISM, Borderline personality disorder, M.D.,D.D.D., CFS, Histiocytosis, O.D.D, A.D.H.D, RSD, RA (rheumatoid arthritis ) PBC,RLS ,COPD, Sarcoidosis, etc.) Never judge cause you cannot see a traumatic brain injury(stroke victim), GBS, CIPD❤ 🙏

For those who don't know how to copy and paste on FB...hold your finger on the text.

I'm doing this for any family member or friend who is disabled or in constant pain but doesn’t look it on the outside! Post this because it is so true!

I’m thankful for God, my donor, my family & friends. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

I told people there at Walmart that there was a sign for a free Christmas puppy in the back and I took one!!

I got to see again the beauty of nature and history with my wife and four legged child at Jamestown & Williamsburg, VA. Special thanks to my donor for allowing me to continue with life for over 4 1/2 years!

I cannot express deeply enough I am grateful for my freedoms. Thank you veterans for all of your sacrifices!