A WNY Man Will Become Rare Living Heart Donor

A Western New York man will undergo a rare procedure to become a living heart donor. You heard that right, a LIVING heart donor.

What Is A Living Heart Donor?

You may have never heard of a living heart donor because it is a rare occurrence. According to OrganDonor.gov, around 6,500 living donation transplants happen every year. Transplant Living says,

"A domino transplant makes some heart-lung recipients living heart donors. When a patient receives a heart-lung 'bloc' from a deceased donor, his or her healthy heart may be given to an individual waiting for a heart transplant. Extremely rare, this procedure is used when physicians determine that the deceased donor lungs will function best if they are used in conjunction with the deceased donor heart."

The first human heart transplant happened in 1967 and it has now become the third most frequent organ transplant procedure, according to the United Network For Organ Sharing. Anne Paschke, a spokesperson for UNOS, told WKBW that there have been 43 living heart donor transplants since 1988.

City of Tonawanda Man To Become Living Heart Donor

A City of Tonawanda man, 38-year-old Patrick McDonald, will undergo the domino surgery. After catching COVID-19 and suffering health setbacks, McDonald became a candidate for a heart and lung transplant. He will receive an organ donation from a deceased donor. Then, his heart will go to another person awaiting a heart transplant. McDonald told Channel 7,

"They said 'Would you like to donate your heart if someone could use it?', and without skipping a beat I said absolutely."

He is currently at NYU Medical in Manhattan but plans to come back to WNY to spend time with his family, including eight kids, until his donor is found. McDonald's GoFundMe has raised $4,465 raised of its $10,000 goal.

Donate To Patrick McDonald's GoFundMe

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