The red powerboat slices through choppy waters on Grand Lake, Presque Island, Michigan. (Commentary of J. Schwartz Photography)
It's a sunny, windy day and at the helm, the 21-year-old Chase Fairbaan is pushing 60 mph to finish first on the fireplace 500 marathon boat race.
For Chase, an avid outdoor man and adventurer, it's not a race that draws him to boat racing. That's speed. It was not long ago that Chase and his family focused on just one goal.
“He's very lucky to be alive.” His dad, Paul, says: “Every day is a blessing.”
Cardiac arrest
The first indication that something was wrong in Chase's mind came in 2011 at the age of 11 on the soccer field in his hometown of Harbor Springs in northern Michigan.
Chase fell into cardiac arrest and collapsed onto the field during practice. Paul put a chest compressions on him and revives him. Chase was rushed to the hospital.
He was tested for heart problems, but when the test results returned to normal, he was diagnosed with severe dehydration and sent home.
His health care provider diagnosed him with cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the myocardium is abnormal. They implanted pacemakers and defibrillators. In addition to chasing multiple heart medications, his care team informed him that he could no longer participate in the intense activities he loved, like football. The ideas of life without sports have been chased.
The Fairbaans – Paul, Chase's mom, Lisa and brother Parker – have stepped into a new reality. Later in the summer of 2012, Lisa attended a Mayo Clinic event and met Mayo's pulmonary surgeon, Eric S. Edel, Dr. Edel. Not only did Dr. Edel inform her that her son must be seen by one of his colleagues, but also genetic cardiologist Michael J. Ackerman, Maryland, Maryland.
Chase was appointed Dr. Ackerman a few days later, and his life-saving journey began.
“From the start, Mayo's approach was 'Let's not let this disease define you.' Lisa says. “The first line of Dr. Ackerman's questions include, “Chase, what is your quality of life?” and “What can you do about it?”
Chase says: “Everyone at Mayo Clinic is so thorough, wonderful and personality. Everything they say is a team.”
Journey to transplant
To determine what is causing his heart problems, Chase has undergone genetic testing for a gene known to cause his type of cardiomyopathy. The test returned positive, establishing a genetic defect causing the disease. Chase had one of the most severe forms of cardiomyopathy. It was arrhythmic right ventricular cardiomyopathy or ARVC. ARVC can not only cause heart failure, but it can also lead to life-threatening and unpredictable electrical malfunctions in the heart.
The family was devastated. However, Dr. Ackerman has promised to spend the rest of his life grasping the illness. Dr. Ackerman established Chase's long-term treatment plan. The final necessity of a heart transplant was included.
Two years later, in 2014, Dr. Ackerman told the Fairbairns that Chase's heart was no longer reliable.
“I remember thinking, it's time.” Dr. Ackerman said.
On Christmas Eve, Chase's name was on the national waiting list for the port. Sixteen months later, on April 16, 2016, Fairbaans were informed that the mind was available for porting.
Chase and his family arrived at Mayo Clinic four hours after the call.
A new mind
The transplant disappeared intermittently. The next day, Chase left the bed and sat in a chair.
He also maintained a sense of humor, requesting fast food in the form of fries and mashed potatoes, and requested mashed potatoes for her first post-surgery meal.
Within a few days, his family could hear his new heart beating hard in his chest. About three months after the transplant, Chase returned to Michigan.
Soon, the 16-year-old was healthy enough to play football with Parker for the first time in five years.
“It was exciting to see his resolve.” Parker says of Chase. “I'm lucky enough to be there for my brother.”
Classmates hosted a fundraiser to benefit Mayo Clinic in Chase's honor and sent posters with inspirational messages.
Fairbaans organized a fundraiser called “Chasing the treatment” T-shirts were sold on boat races to support childhood cardiomyopathy research at Mayo Clinic.
Chase and his parents say a pouring of support from his community and care team helped him through his recovery.
“There's a lot to incorporate through this journey, but it's very comfortable to know that there's an incredible health system and team working around the clock behind the scenes to provide best-in-class care for tracking,” says Lisa.Chase's case was so complicated I remember Dr. Ackerman reaching out to colleagues all over the world for input. It's very different at Mayo. There is no ego. They want the best one for their patients, not only medically but also from a broader quality of life perspective. ”
Five years later
Since his heart transplant, Chase has graduated from high school and started working, buying his first home.
Chase has hit many milestones, but his care team, including Brooks S. Edwards, a cardiologist with Mayo Clinic's Heart Transplant Team, will work with him for the rest of his life to set a delicate balance between preventing the heart from rejecting him to over-control his immune system.
Through Mayo Clinic's Organisational Typing Institute, Dr. Edwards and his team are carefully studying the rejection of Chase's type.
“We're using a diagnosis that was not available 10 years ago.” Dr. Edwards says. “Tissue Tips Grabo helped guide him through specific individual therapy.”
The goal was to ensure Chase was always able to bring joy to him. And in five years since his transplant, Chase was able to do just that – race boats, snowmobiles, hunting, fishing, and most of the other things he keeps in mind.
Lisa and Paul marvel at the way their son handled his medical journey at every stage of the road – with calm, kindness and positivity, never feel sorry for themselves.
“Before he got sick, Chase always approached every aspect of his life with a big heart. Then his illness grew his heart too. Lisa says. “He handles it all incrediblely. It inspires how he lives his life in that moment.”
And his care team hopes Chase will have more moments in the future.
“I have a child who tried to die several times before the transplant.” Dr. Edwards says. “He's doing marathon motorboat racing now. I hope he gets older and does well.”
