Long Branch resident Ronald Trout is celebrating a milestone this Valentine’s Day as it marks the fifth anniversary of the heart transplant that saved his life. Trout, 65, expresses his gratitude to his heart donor and their family every morning, not just on February 14. His heart transplant was performed on National Donor Day in 2019 at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
After experiencing a serious heart attack in 2012 and undergoing bypass surgery, Trout’s heart health continued to decline. In 2018, he was added to the heart transplant waiting list. However, just when he was losing hope, Trout had a dream in which a comforting voice told him to keep going. Shortly after this dream, he received the call that a donated heart was ready for him.
Since his life-saving transplant, Trout has become an advocate for the New Jersey Sharing Network, sharing his story to encourage organ and tissue donation. He also shares his thoughts through music and poetry to inspire hope in others. The United Network for Organ Sharing reports that over 100,000 Americans, including nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents, are awaiting a transplant. To learn more about organ and tissue donation and to get involved, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org
