A Father and a Fighter: Lifesaver gets a new chance at life
As a Phoenix firefighter, Dave Wipprecht firmly believes in miracles. In 2014, that faith was tested when Wipprecht began having difficulty breathing. Although doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia, his breathing problems persisted so he checked into Banner Thunderbird Medical Center.
An echocardiogram revealed that his heart was four times its normal size. Wipprecht was given heart medication, but shortly afterward his leg began to hurt. Doctors found blood clots throughout his body, due to his heart only functioning at 10 percent.
Rushed into emergency surgery and then transferred to Mayo Clinic Hospital, Wipprecht was placed at the top of the waiting list for a new heart.
Journey of Faith
Throughout his three-and-a-half month stay at Mayo Clinic Hospital, hooked up to IVs and taking medication daily, Wipprecht maintained an optimistic attitude for his wife and three young sons.
In June 2015, his doctor told Wipprecht that they had exhausted all their options and predicted he only had nine days to live. Still, Wipprecht’s positivity never wavered. He continued to show strength and bravery, even amidst adversity, as any proud father would.
“I knew I’d get through this, knowing that I had to stay alive for my family,” Wipprecht says.
His faith was rewarded when, six days later, he received news that a new heart was available. Wipprecht says that he woke up smiling after the successful surgery.
“I could breathe normally,” Wipprecht says. “I felt new again.”
The Gift of New Life
Back at home just nine days later, Wipprecht took care of his new heart. After celebrating his two-year transplant anniversary, Wipprecht wrote a letter to his donor’s family and hopes to meet them someday.
Even before his transplant experience, Wipprecht had always been a registered donor. Now donation has even more meaning. At the fire department, he and his fellow firefighters always did everything they could to save someone’s life. On the sad occasion when that person might not make it, their efforts could still help save someone else’s life through donation. Wipprecht proudly displays a Donate Life license plate and shares his story with others.
“I would encourage others to stay positive and tell them there’s a reason for everything,” says Wipprecht. “And if it’s my time to go, then it’s my time to help others.”
Thanks to the generosity of others, Wipprecht can continue to be a father and a fighter, and for that he is forever grateful.
Donate Life Day at the Diamondbacks
We hit a home run for donation at Donate Life Day at the Diamondbacks! On Sunday, April 30, more than 700 guests joined us in their green Donate Life T-shirts at Chase Field to celebrate organ and tissue donation.
Donate Life Arizona staff and volunteers were joined by volunteers from Maricopa Integrated Health System at a registration table during the game. Those who registered or reaffirmed their decision to be organ, cornea and tissue donors at the game proudly sported blue Donate Life hats.
Before the D-backs faced the Colorado Rockies, families of Calvin Mosman, Christopher Jagodzinski, and Roman Fuentes-McCaa honored their loved ones’ generosity and strength on the field. Recipients Hank Rausch, Robert Fowler and Larry Fowler joined the families on the field to be recognized on the Jumbotron.
Ashley Foster, two-time intestine and pancreas recipient, kicked off the game with the first pitch. To honor recipients and donors, Ashley decorated her Donate Life shirt with the names of those who have been touched by donation. She was thrilled to represent the transplant community and to fulfill her lifelong dream of throwing the first pitch at a Diamondbacks game.
Back in the stands, the Donate Life section was a sea of enthusiastic supporters of organ and tissue donation. People were cheering on the team and holding posters encouraging other D-backs fans to come register while Larry and Robert Fowler, heart recipients and twins, were interviewed by Fox Sports. “I am incredibly thankful to my donor family, and I hope to meet them someday and personally thank them for this meaningful gift,” says Larry.
Donate Life Arizona also joined in the fun during several of the activities between innings. Even three of the youngest Donate Life fans fiercely competed in the hot dog race. The kids put on ketchup, mustard and relish costumes and ran as fast as they could. In the end, relish won, but fun was had by all!
After the hot dog race, Olivia Tallabas, living donor and recipient daughter, ran onto the field to change the bases. Olivia became a living donor in March 2003, when she donated her left kidney to her father. Her dad was a kidney and liver transplant recipient.
Thanks to the enthusiasm of the Donate Life section, and their fun presence throughout the game, attendees all across the stadium registered and reaffirmed their decision to save lives. The D-backs won the game against the Colorado Rockies, and Donate Life fans hit it out of the park!