![\"\"](\"http:\/\/hero777.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Selvin-04-300x201.jpg\")
<\/p>\n[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” custom_padding=”20px|0px|25px|0px” module_class=”blogMod” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” prev_background_color=”#000000″ next_background_color=”#000000″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Blog Content” text_font_size=”13″ inline_fonts=”Lato Light” _builder_version=”3.3.1″ custom_css_main_element=”font-size: 16px !important;” text_orientation=”justified”]<\/p>\n
In April of 2004 doctors discovered that I had a cardiac issue and I underwent a triple bypass.\u00a0 It was also noted that I had an arrhythmia of my heart and the doctors believed that I had a heart attack in 2002 which had caused damage in my heart.\u00a0 I had not realised this as I had no symptoms and no pain whatsoever.<\/p>\n
The need for a triple bypass all came about while I was managing a Pharmacy in the mornings and as I did periodically, I checked my cholesterol.\u00a0\u00a0 It was significantly higher than it had been previously so I called my cardiologist who suggested I come in and have an ECG, effort ECG and stress ECG.\u00a0 As some irregularities were found during the ECG\u2019s, I underwent an angiogram where the blockages in my arteries were identified.\u00a0\u00a0This obviously came as a huge shock and I went away and talked to another cardio thoracic surgeon (a family friend) who also recommended that I did the surgery.<\/p>\n
And so my journey to transplantation began\u2026.<\/p>\n
I underwent the triple bypass in April 2004.\u00a0 I was incredibly well for a few days post my bypass but by the following Tuesday I was not responding well at all.\u00a0 Doctors were called in and my long 66 days in hospital began.\u00a0 I was re-ventilated, and unfortunately there was a blood clot in my toe area which turned gangrenous. As a result of this I had to go through an amputation on my left leg just below the ankle. This was obviously a very trying time for everyone concerned and I thank God that I am alive today to tell this story.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I was discharged in June 2004 and later that year underwent a revision of my amputation to enable me to have a prosthetic. This entailed removing more of my leg to just below the knee in order for the prosthetic limb to be fitted.\u00a0 By September I also had a pacemaker fitted due to my irregular heart beat needing stabilisation.\u00a0 I adapted to the prosthetic limb quickly and by December 2004, I managed to go to church for the first time with my prosthetic limb.<\/p>\n
I saw my doctor every three months after my bypass.\u00a0 My heart muscles had been damaged prior to the bypass and I was told to be very careful not to strain myself.\u00a0 From 2004 to 2013 I had four pacemakers inserted.\u00a0 This was due to the batteries being depleted quicker than the norm because of my irregular heart beat.\u00a0 My life changed again in November 2013 when I was told by my cardiologist that the muscles of my heart were severely damaged and the injection rate was sitting at 11%.\u00a0 I was going into end stage cardiac failure.\u00a0\u00a0 That is when they decided to put me on the transplant waiting list.<\/p>\n
My pre-transplant work up was completed in November 2013.\u00a0 I had taken quite a knock over the last 9 years and it wasn\u2019t an easy path to follow.\u00a0 I was tired both physically and emotionally at this point. My gratitude to my transplant co-ordinator Cindy Goldie and Belinda Moolman at Ethekwini Heart Hospital is huge.\u00a0 They explained everything to me including the pros and cons, the highs and lows of having a heart transplant.\u00a0\u00a0I read a lot of articles about people living with transplanted kidneys, pancreases, hearts, and lungs and I realised just what an incredible gift this would be for me. A new life was what I could look forward to.<\/p>\n
In early 2016, my wife picked up the phone and as soon as I heard it was Cindy, I knew that I may receive my transplant.\u00a0 I was in the process of leaving for work.\u00a0 Emotions were high and I knew I had to get to the hospital as soon as possible.\u00a0 Once I knew the transplant would actually happen, we contacted the rest of the family and my Pastor who came to give moral and spiritual support. It was a special time and as I was wheeled into theatre I was able to see all these special people and know they were praying for me.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/hero777.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Selvin-02-300x201.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
My wife received the news from Mr Kleinloog after my transplant that all had gone well and that my previous heart had been in very bad shape. I spent 19 days in hospital recovering.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I came home and there were lots of things to adjust to in terms of medication, visitors and my care.\u00a0 Friend and family just had to understand that my health came first and there were restrictions to what I was able to do, who I could see and where I could go for months if not years afterwards.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/hero777.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Selvin-05-300x201.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
My subsequent visits to my surgeon and cardiologist showed I was doing remarkably well.\u00a0 As I write this I am already past two years post transplant and thriving.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I am so grateful to my donor family; my thoughts go out to them every day for allowing their loved one to give me a second chance in life.\u00a0\u00a0I also know that I would never be where I am today if it had not been for the dedication of ALL the medical staff involved in my care and transplant, the support of my special wife and family, church family, other transplant recipients who continue to offer their support and my belief in God.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/hero777.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Selvin-03-300x201.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
This incredible gift has meant that\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen my son walk down the aisle, I will see my daughter graduate, I will walk her down the aisle and ultimately see her get married and come November this year, I will be a proud grandparent.\u00a0\u00a0I am who I am today because of this incredible gift of life from my angel donor. My family are registered organ and tissue donors and I continue to encourage everyone I meet to consider donation.<\/p>\n
Please consider becoming a hero to someone one day.<\/p>\n
Talk about, Register, and Share your decision to become a potential organ and tissue donor one day. #BeAHero<\/p>\n
Selva Kisten<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.odf.org.za\/matthews-journey.html” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Register as an organ & tissue donor here…” button_alignment=”center” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#e03c33″ button_font=”Lato||||” background_color=”#dd3939″ saved_tabs=”all” background_layout=”light” button_letter_spacing=”0″ button_use_icon=”default” button_icon_placement=”right” button_on_hover=”on” button_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ global_module=”803″ \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”3.0.106″ show_avatar=”on” show_reply=”on” show_count=”on” background_layout=”light” header_font_size_tablet=”51″ header_line_height_tablet=”2″ custom_button=”off” button_icon_placement=”right” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In April of 2004 doctors discovered that I had a cardiac issue and I underwent a triple bypass.\u00a0 It was also noted that I had an arrhythmia of my heart and the doctors believed that I had a heart attack in 2002 which had caused damage in my heart.\u00a0 I had not realised this as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1752,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,2],"tags":[20,32,4,41,6,33],"class_list":["post-1751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-organ-donor-awareness","category-organ-donor-stories","tag-donor","tag-heart","tag-hero777","tag-hero777aware","tag-organdonor","tag-transplant"],"yoast_head":"\n