MILLER PLACE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A Lengthy Island dad is dwelling for the vacation after spending final Christmas battling heart failure.
Now, following a transplant, he’s not taking something as a right, CBS2’s Dave Carlin reported Thursday.
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“So, we all the time love being out with my youngsters, enjoying with them exterior,” Christopher Frey mentioned.
Frey, 39, is a married father of two sons, ages 2 and three.
He mentioned what makes him youthful than his youngsters is developing on the 12 months anniversary of getting his new coronary heart and his second life.
(Picture: Frey household)
Throughout a tricky transplant journey, he mentioned he informed himself, “It doesn’t matter what, I’m going to get via this. I’ve a household I’ve to go dwelling to. I’ve boys to boost.”
He mentioned it was Thanksgiving Day 2020 when he felt weak. He knew to get it checked as a result of his coronary heart issues dated again to his childhood.
At Mount Sinai Hospital, he was informed his coronary heart was heavy with fluid.
“I used to be in coronary heart failure,” he mentioned. “They usually mentioned the one manner that you simply’ll be capable of depart this hospital is if you happen to get a coronary heart transplant.”
Final Christmas, earlier than the transplant, he mentioned was his lowest level. His spouse, Christine, needed to be of their Miller Place dwelling with sons Patrick and Charlie, and he mentioned mentioned it felt empty to FaceTime and fake to be pleased.
A brand new coronary heart grew to become his on Jan. 26, following an 18-hour surgical procedure. He doesn’t know the id of the donor.
“I’m so grateful to be alive, however I’m additionally unhappy that I do know another person had to surrender their life to ensure that me to outlive,” Frey mentioned.
The household reunited of their dwelling in March.
“My spouse has been wonderful,” Frey mentioned.
For the household, a Christmas they’d wish to overlook has been adopted by this one, that includes revived hope, love and energy.
“Previous to this, I might be out of breath strolling to the tip of my driveway,” Frey mentioned.
When requested what recommendation he has for different individuals, “Communicate up. That’s the most important factor. Perhaps it’s all the time a great time to get a second opinion. See the suitable physician.”
Frey’s docs at Mount Sinai mentioned this goes to indicate that folks have to get checked if one thing doesn’t really feel proper. Don’t use the pandemic to hesitate or delay.
“It’s higher to get checked out than to push it off into the longer term,” mentioned Dr. Anu Lala, an affiliate professor of cardiology at Mount Sinai.
“To let him come collectively along with his spouse and children, there could possibly be nothing higher,” added Dr. Ali Zaidi, who makes a speciality of congenital coronary heart illness.
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Feeling very merry once more, Frey has a lot to rejoice this Christmas.
