A Kansas City man who received a heart transplant is enjoying Father's Day as a new dad. Kevin Calhoun was living a normal life until he received an unexpected diagnosis. “I was 28 years old when I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, which basically means an enlarged heart,” Calhoun said. His condition gradually worsened, and doctors told him a heart transplant was his only option. “It took so much energy to take care of myself,” he said. In May 2015, he got a life-changing call: he was going to get a new heart. “My life changed 180 degrees,” Calhoun said, reflecting on the transformational experience. Motivated by a second chance at life, Calhoun participated in the World Transplant Games. “It was to honor my donor,” he said. But the game gave him more than just an opportunity to honor his donor. There, he met his future wife, and recently welcomed their son into the world. “I was given life, so I was able to give life, and we have this beautiful son,” Calhoun said. That makes Father's Day especially special for him. Nicole Asquith, president of the Midwest Transplant Network, emphasized the importance of organ donation. “The moment that a donor's family makes a decision or supports the decision of their loved one, they know that they are giving a gift or a chapter to someone else,” Asquith said. Calhoun has not yet met an organ donor's family, but hopes to meet them one day. “When I meet them, I want to hug them so tight that they can feel their son's heart beating through me,” he said. As for his Father's Day plans, Calhoun plans to spend it with his own father and son. “I'm going to go fishing this Father's Day weekend and enjoy the weather at the park,” Calhoun said. Calhoun hopes his story will inspire others to sign up for the organ donation registry.
A Kansas City man who received a heart transplant is now enjoying Father's Day as a new dad.
Kevin Calhoun was living a peaceful life until he received an unexpected diagnosis.
“I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy when I was 28, which basically meant I had an enlarged heart,” Calhoun says.
His condition gradually worsened, until doctors told him a heart transplant was his only option.
“It just took a lot of energy to take care of myself,” he said.
In May 2015, he received a phone call that would change his life: he would receive a new heart.
“My life changed 180 degrees,” Calhoun said, reflecting on the transformative experience.
Eager to have a second chance at life, Calhoun entered the World Transplant Games.
“You know, it's to honor the donors,” he said.
But the tournament gave him more than an opportunity to honor donors: He met his future wife there, and their son was recently born there.
“Because I was given life, I was able to give life and we have this beautiful son,” Calhoun said.
This makes Father's Day especially special for him.
Nicole Asquith, president of the Midwest Transplant Network, stressed the importance of organ donation.
“The moment donor families make a decision or support their loved one’s decision is their worst moment, they are giving a gift.
Then they pass the chapter on to someone else,” Asquith said.
Calhoun has yet to meet the family of his organ donor, but hopes to one day.
“When I meet them, I want to hold them so tight that they can feel my son's heart beating through me,” he said.
As for his plans for Father's Day, Calhoun plans to spend it with his father and son.
“This Father's Day weekend, I'm going to go fishing and enjoy the weather at the park,” he said.
Calhoun hopes her story will inspire others to register to donate organs.
