Scott Pollard appeared to be doing well Thursday and being released from the hospital nearly two weeks after receiving a heart transplant.
The former NBA and Kansas center rang the bell at the Vanderbilt Transplant Center in Nashville, Tennessee, 13 days after surgery. He said this to applause from hospital staff who lined up to witness the moment. Mr Pollard’s wife Dawn shared a video of the moment on social media.
Although neither Mr. Pollard nor Mr. Dorn have made it clear, the ringing of the bell appears to indicate discharge from the hospital. Hospital bells now ring to signal milestones in treatment, such as cancer patients completing their final round of chemotherapy. Pollard was wearing his street clothes and smiling as he rang the bell.
Pollard was admitted to the ICU on February 7th because he needed a heart.
Thursday’s moment came three weeks after Pollard was admitted to Vanderbilt’s intensive care unit, aggravated by a genetic disorder that causes her heart to beat more than 10,000 times a day. He told The Associated Press on February 7 that he would not leave the hospital until a donor was found and he underwent a transplant.
Mr Pollard, 48, said he had tried treatments such as medication and having a pacemaker fitted, but had no success dealing with the symptoms he believed were caused by a virus many years ago.
“I’ll be here until we find the heart,” Pollard said. “My heart has become weak. [Doctors] I agree that this is the best way to help your heart recover faster. ”
Complicating the search is that doctors must find a donor heart large and strong enough to pump blood to the 6-foot-11-inch, 260-pound former NBA athlete. It was inevitable.
Dawn wrote on social media: On February 16, doctors announced that they had found a heart that was “large, strong, and perfectly fitted.” She shared an image of Ms Pollard shaving her head, face and chest ahead of her heart transplant, and she thanked the donor for “giving her the most wonderful gift of life”.
Scott wanted everyone to know that he no longer had the hair he had before the heart transplant and that it was over. Please continue to pray for Scott, the surgeon, and the donor and his family who have lost their loved ones. This donor gave the greatest gift of his life. We are forever grateful ❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/OQRGDma5e6
— Dawn Pollard (@DawnMPollard) February 16, 2024
dawn Updated social media followers After the transplant, “the surgery went well.” She continued to provide updated videos of Pollard moving and walking after the surgery.
A Feb. 26 video showed Pollard in good spirits and walking on her own without the use of a walker, IV fluids or medical equipment.
It’s been a productive day and the Scotsman feels stronger. With two hours of post-heart transplant education, we learned all about how to best care for his new gift – rejection is not an option! Remaining wires were removed and all IV medications were discontinued. , I did 3 laps without a walker!💪🏼❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/g4ocWsYOV6
— Dawn Pollard (@DawnMPollard) February 27, 2024
Now, three days later, Pollard appears to have been released from the hospital.
Pollard: ‘I didn’t realize how sick I was’
After the surgery, Pollard told CBS 13 in Sacramento that the donor heart was a perfect match.
“Big hearts are now available,” Pollard said. “It won’t fit anyone else. It won’t fit a normal-sized person.”
He said the donor’s family, who has chosen to remain anonymous, is passing on a message of gratitude.
“All I know is it was a big deal. We’re going to reach out through our network,” Pollard continued. … “Keeping in mind the donor’s family, I was lucky that a big man with a healthy heart passed away. I am grateful for the tragedy they had to live with the loss of their loved one.” I say that because I know.”
“Luckily, he was a donor and he saved a lot of people’s lives.”
Pollard told CBS 13 she felt better when she woke up from the five-hour transplant surgery.
“I didn’t realize how sick I was,” he continued. “Waking up from such a huge transplant and feeling so good? Wow. I was sick.”
Pollard played four seasons at the University of Kansas from 1993 to 1997 before being drafted 19th overall by the Detroit Pistons into the NBA. KU celebrated Thursday’s news on social media with a highlight reel from his playing days.
Pollard played 11 NBA seasons with the Pistons, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics. He won the NBA championship in 2008, his final NBA season with the Celtics. After retiring from basketball, he appeared on the CBS reality show “Survivor.”
