Calvin Ballard Meets his Donor Family

Heart Transplant Recipient July 10, 1998 - UCSF

This story is written in Calvins own words ....

On July 2, 1998 a young man living in Rohnert Park, CA went for his morning jog, feeling well. After a few minutes he returned with a severe headache and went to the hospital. The diagnosis was a brain aneurysm. After five days he went into a coma and then was declared brain dead. At this time his loving family, after talking it over, consented to organ donation. This decision changed my life completely. I was a match with him and on July 10th, 1998 I received his heart, linking us together forever. Not only Shawn, but his wife of five years and family.

On April 29th, 2000 I had an ultimate experience. I went to Hayward, CA and met the family. Each recipient deals with the donor family in their own way and I believe this is how it has to be. In my case I had an unexplainable feeling, a need to contact the family.

I was told by my donor's mother that a short time after Shawns's death his wife told her, she hoped someday she would hear from the person that received the heart and would like, once again, to hear his heart beat. April 29th, at noon, she got her wish (see picture on right).

Shawn's mother told me she believes that if he had lived to be my age, he would have looked exactly as I do now. She also told me Shawn had an uncle in Minnesota that looked so much like me that we could be brothers.

There are not enough words that can fully explain the wonderful feelings within me regarding this meeting. I don't know what things are yet to come, but I personally believe that I have been touched by Gad and He has many things for me to do. As I think of that has happened to me, it is not accidental or coincidence. There has to be a master plan for all of us.

Life is truly wonderful!
By Calvin Ballard

Calvin Ballard
Heart Transplant UC San Francisco - July 10, 1998
Donor - Shawn Evans - 32 years old
Cause of death, Brain Aneurysm
Total Transplants because of Shawn - 6

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