USA: Scott Hatskco first noticed trouble in 2009 at age 38 when ordinary exertion left him dizzy and breathless. Doctors diagnosed cardiac sarcoidosis, a rare inflammatory condition that invaded his lungs and heart and eventually produced both mechanical dysfunction and electrical instability. In 2011 he began care with Dr. Leeway Chen at UR Medicine in Rochester, New York, who recommended placement on the transplant list as his condition progressed toward heart failure.
By June 2015 his illness had worsened and he was admitted to the hospital for intensive management. The wait for a donor was perilous and at one point he nearly died twice while hospitalized. After 86 days in the hospital he received notification that a matching heart had become available, a moment filled with relief and somber recognition of the life behind the gift.
A four hour heart transplant operation proved successful. Recovery began quickly with early ambulation roughly one to two days after surgery as family and staff encouraged progress. The medical team guided rehabilitation and monitored his heart function as he transitioned from critical care toward recuperation.
The donor was 26 year old Shawn McMullen, a US Army scout, described as a wounded warrior and a registered organ donor. Scott formed a relationship with McMullen’s family, wrote them a letter of thanks, and now holds an annual blood drive in Shawn’s honor. He uses his experience to promote organ donation and to underscore how transplantation can save lives while honoring those who give the gift.
He remains vocal about the importance of donor registration and urges others to register so they can save lives if they cannot be saved themselves. Scott credits the transplant team and donor family for giving him renewed purpose and continues to honor Shawn’s legacy through outreach and remembrance each year today.
