Music of the Heart

The University of Kansas Health System offers the full spectrum of care for patients with advanced heart failure, including medicine, surgery, cardiac assist devices and heart transplant.

"Heart transplant is not the right treatment for everyone," the cardiologist says. "It's a complex procedure and expensive. But when it happens for the right person, like John, it's magical."

In October 2016, Findlay's name was added to the organ transplant waiting list. On the same day, he checked into the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) at The University of Kansas Health System. There, physicians and nurses worked around the clock to keep Findlay's failing heart and kidneys stable while he waited for a new heart.

Findlay kept himself busy in the CICU with social media posts and music. Family, friends, coworkers and college buddies came to visit. John entertained his guests and the nurses with a small, battery-operated practice bagpipe that allowed him to play his favorite songs without blowing.

On Dec. 26, 2016, a heart became available. It was Michelle's birthday, or as she says, her "happiest birthday ever." Findlay had waited 73 days in the CICU. He shrugged it off. "That's pretty short in the grand scheme of things," he says. "The wait times are much longer in other parts of the country."

A cardiothoracic surgeon performed Findlay's transplant surgery. It went smoothly with no evidence of rejection or unexpected complications.

Since the transplant, Findlay has experienced a dramatic improvement in his quality of life.

"I'm back at work. Climbing stairs. Playing with my kids. Coaching baseball. And practicing the bagpipe. I consider myself very blessed," he says.

Findlay credits his wife for being his "rock" throughout the process. Of course, there's another family Findlay thinks about every day: his donor's. Findlay has thanked them through an anonymous letter and hopes to meet them someday.

"I feel fortunate to live in the Kansas City area. The doctors at The University of Kansas Health System are absolutely brilliant, the staff is great and the facilities are fantastic," he says.

Now that Findlay has made it through his heart transplant and a full year of recovery, he has just one more goal to achieve. With a little more practice, he hopes to join the Kansas City St. Andrew Pipes & Drums in the 2018 St. Patrick's Day Parade. Watch for him on March 17 – he'll be the one playing with all his heart.