Hi, my name is Jordan Schroeder and I am 25 years old. My story began in December of 2015. I was admitted into St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s Cardiac ICU for Dilated Cardiomyopathy. I was told by the team there that my heart was functioning at only 6%. Because I lived a healthy lifestyle filled with exercise and healthy eating habits, I was told that my active lifestyle was why I was able to “walk” into the Emergency Room versus the alternative. In January of 2016, I was told that my heart was beyond repair and I was going to need a transplant. While awaiting a transplant my heart was being supported by a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD), which allowed me to get back to my life as much as possible until a heart became available. I waited for 10 months, and on November 9, 2016, I got the call. I was told to pack my bags and come to the hospital as soon as possible. I was transplanted on the morning of November 10, 2016. I cannot express the gratitude my family and I have for my donor family. Because of my donor family and my wonderful donor, I was given a second chance at life. Now, I am living my best life as an Emergency Medical Technician helping with saving the lives of other people in my community. To my donor and their wonderful family, this heart will ALWAYS beat for you.
