Survivor Discovered He Had Extra Than Only a Sinus An infection
Middle Ball Co-Chair, Garen Armstrong, encourages everybody to turn into an organ donor
Up to date: 11:50 AM CST Feb 25, 2024
KILLER OF AMERICANS. KMBC NINE’S TERISA WHITE SPOKE WITH A LOCAL BUSINESSMAN WHO WENT FROM A SINUS INFECTION TO HEART FAILURE IN A MATTER OF DAYS, SO WITH SOME NUMBERS, CAN YOU SHOW US THE VIBE BOARD? SEE WHAT WE GOT GOING ON HERE? GARRETT ARMSTRONG HAS A BRIGHT SPIRIT. SANDRA, HOW ARE YOU DOING? AND AN EVEN BIGGER HEART THAT HE WAITED THREE YEARS FOR. THE FIRST THING I DID WAS WHEN THEY TOLD ME I GOT THE HEART. I STARTED PRAYING FOR THE DONOR’S FAMILY. THE FATHER OF THREE AND SUCCESSFUL ROOFING CONTRACTOR BECAME ILL IN 2018, WHILE WORKING ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE. I HAD GOTTEN A SINUS INFECTION, BEEN BREATHING IN THIS CHAR AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A SINUS INFECTION. NOTHING OF IT BUT IT WOULDN’T GO AWAY. THEN A VISIT TO THE DOCTOR CHANGED EVERYTHING. THE INFECTION HAD SPREAD TO GARRETT’S HEART, SO I WENT FROM A SINUS INFECTION TO HEART FAILURE. WITHIN 45 DAYS, MY HEART JUST STARTED SWELLING AND SWELLING UNTIL THERE WAS NO ELASTIC CITY ANYMORE. DOCTORS HAD TO ACT FAST. MY ONLY CHANCE OF SURVIVAL WAS TO GET AN LVAD IMPLANTING A LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE, WHICH HELPS FAILING HEARTS CONTINUE BEATING. FOR THREE YEARS, GAREN WAITED UNTIL A NEW HEART BECAME AVAILABLE. IT CONSTANTLY THOUGHT ABOUT DEATH AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THE HEART TRANSPLANT. THE WHOLE PROCESS OF IT. FOLLOWING THE SURGERY, GARRETT HAS BEEN CELEBRATING LIFE’S MOMENTS LIKE WATCHING HIS DAUGHTER GRADUATE AND EXPANDING HIS ROOFING BUSINESS. SO WE’VE GOT SOME OF THESE NEW TRUCKS ORDERED, RIGHT? BUT HIS JOURNEY ISN’T FINISHED. GOOD WORK, GOOD WORK. IT COULD MEAN A SECOND HEART TRANSPLANT. GARRETT’S BODY STARTED TO REJECT THE NEW HEART, FORCING HIM TO TAKE AROUND 40 PILLS PER DAY. JUST TO STAY HEALTHY. GARRETT SAYS NO MATTER WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS, HE’S GRATEFUL FOR THE LIFE HE HAS. I’M GRATEFUL THERE’S A BIGGER PURPOSE. I, I DON’T FEEL THAT I’VE GONE THROUGH ALL OF THESE, UM, EXPERIENCES FOR THIS TO BE THE FINAL FINALITY OF IT ALL. WHEN I’M ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, IT’S ONLY GOING TO BE BETTER, AND I’M GOING TO HAVE EVEN MORE OF A STORY TO SHARE. THAT WAS TERESA WHITE REPORTING. YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE GARRETT. HE’S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SHAMROCK ROOFING. HE ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO BECOME ORGAN DONORS. YOU CAN YOU MIGHT JUST SAVE A LIFE. GARRETT IS THE CHAIR OF THIS YEAR’S KANSAS CITY’S AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HEART BALL IS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW AT THE LOWE’S HOTEL IN KANSAS CITY. OUR VERY OWN BRYAN BUSBY AND JAMIE WEISS ARE CO-HOSTING. THE SOLD OUT EVENT RAISES
Survivor Discovered He Had Extra Than Only a Sinus An infection
Middle Ball Co-Chair, Garen Armstrong, encourages everybody to turn into an organ donor
Up to date: 11:50 AM CST Feb 25, 2024
Garen Armstrong idea it was once only a sinus an infection that would not move away. A snappy consult with to the physician modified the whole lot. “My middle simply began swelling and swelling, till there was once no elasticity anymore.” Garen gained a life-saving implant and years later a middle transplant. He’s grateful and celebrates existence’s moments. He encourages everybody to turn into an organ donor. KMBC is proud to sponsor the American Middle Affiliation’s Middle Month and the challenge to stay hearts wholesome. Be informed extra at HEART.ORG/KC.
American Middle Affiliation – Kansas — Garen Armstrong idea it was once only a sinus an infection that would not move away. A snappy consult with to the physician modified the whole lot. “My middle simply began swelling and swelling, till there was once no elasticity anymore.” Garen gained a life-saving implant and years later a middle transplant. He’s grateful and celebrates existence’s moments. He encourages everybody to turn into an organ donor. KMBC is proud to sponsor the American Middle Affiliation’s Middle Month and the challenge to stay hearts wholesome. Be informed extra at HEART.ORG/KC.
