Boston Celtics fan Ken Weeks has given his team something special: the number 18. For the Celtics, the number represents the record 18th championship they are seeking in the NBA Finals. For Weeks, the number represents his heart. In May, he became the 18th heart transplant patient to undergo life-saving surgery this year at Tufts Medical Center. Weeks, a Cape Cod resident who has worked as a lobster fisherman for more than 30 years, began having heart problems in March. In April, he suffered a heart attack while sleeping. “I was admitted to the hospital on Cape Cod, went home for a few days, and woke up to my wife giving me CPR,” Weeks said. While recovering from the 12-hour transplant, he has been watching the Celtics' playoff run from his hospital room. “They play the game. They don't just go for 3-pointers and dunk and run down the court. They set the play. They pass the ball well,” he said. Weeks said the success of his transplant has made this year a great one, and he expects the Celtics to do the same. “The young coaches have done a great job, Stevens, putting together the team, they've got depth,” Weeks said. Though the heart transplant came with a forced retirement from fishing, Weeks said now is the time to be a better teammate back home. “It's been a little emotional, but they've been unbelievable, especially my wife,” he said. As well as Game 4, he's looking forward to returning to his hometown of Harwich Port soon.
Boston Celtics fan Ken Weeks told us about something special about his team: the number 18.
For the Celtics, that number would represent a record 18th championship they hope to win in the NBA Finals.
For Weeks, the number represents his heart: In May, he became the 18th heart transplant patient to undergo the life-saving surgery at Tufts Medical Center this year.
Weeks, a Cape Cod resident who has worked as a lobster fisherman for more than 30 years, began having heart problems in March and suffered a heart attack in his sleep in April.
“I ended up in hospital in Cape Town, went home for a few days and woke up to my wife giving me CPR,” Mr Weeks said.
He's been watching the Celtics playoff games from his hospital room while recovering from a 12-hour transplant operation.
“They play the game. They don't just go for 3s and dunk and run down the court. They make plays. They pass well,” he said.
Weeks said the success of the transplant has made this a great year for him and that he expects the Celtics to have a great year as well.
“The young coaches have done a great job. They have a guy called Stevens who has built the team, so they're really deep,” he said.
Although the heart transplant came with a forced retirement from fishing, Weeks said now it's time to be a better teammate on the national stage.
“It was a little emotional but they were just unbelievable, especially my wife,” he said.
He is looking forward to returning to his hometown of Harwich Port soon for Game 4 as well.
