Rose Naughtin

Rose was only four years old when she developed restrictive cardiomyopathy. This caused the walls of her heart to become rigid, restricting the organ’s ability to stretch and fill with blood. The doctors believe it was triggered by a virus but were never really sure. Rose received a heart transplant from a pediatric donor at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in 1996, after only being on the transplant waiting list for about six weeks.

Unfortunately, eight years later, at the age of 12, Rose learned that she had developed severe coronary artery disease because of long-term, low-level rejection her transplanted heart was experiencing. Her doctors gave her the news: re-transplantation was the only solution. Again, Rose was placed on the waiting list and again, she received a transplant from a generous donor only six weeks later.

2014 was a banner year for Rose. She had lived her whole life – 22 years at that point – in Kansas. But strong and healthy, thanks to her two heart donors, Rose packed her things and headed west to Portland. Rose was filled with excitement for the future as well as pride. She explains, “that’s when I felt true independence and learned how to navigate health systems on my own.”

Then, in 2015, eleven years after her second heart transplant, Rose had a major setback. An acute rejection episode caused her second donated heart to fail. A lifetime of immunosuppressant drugs had taken their toll on her kidneys, and they also failed. Thankfully, her medical team was able to stabilize her, and Rose was able to manage her health until 2021, when her heart and kidneys failed again. She needed a third heart transplant, but this time, she needed a kidney, too.

The years leading up to Rose’s third transplant were challenging. Over time, as her health declined, Rose had to live with more and more restrictions. She was immune compromised, getting sick more often than others. She was constantly fatigued and had to closely watch her diet and fluid intake to control her water retention and edema. Everyday tasks like cleaning and grocery shopping became overwhelming, and eventually, Rose had to stop working completely. At times, she grew discouraged and faced severe anxiety. Doctors estimated that this time she would probably be on the waiting list for about a year. And because a double transplant of a heart and kidney can’t be performed just anywhere, Rose was listed at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, which was a long way from her home in Portland.

Rose shares, “The more time that passed, the more anxious and hopeless I felt. It was hard to cope with the idea of suddenly having to leave everything at home behind and be gone for months. I was especially worried about my dog, as he was very attached to me, and we’d spent every day together after I stopped working. My family and partner were also worried about me, and at times I felt like my health issues were a burden on my loved ones.”

At about 5:00 AM on April 15, 2023, Rose’s phone rang and woke her. It had been almost exactly a year since she had been put on the waiting list. Rose says that as soon as she opened her eyes, she knew that “it was time.” She bravely and optimistically set her emotions aside, simply focusing on the logistics of getting to LA. The next day, on April 16, Rose received a new heart and a kidney from her third generous donor.

Rose’s third transplant was a lot different from her first two: the length of time on the waiting list, the level of illness she experienced, and also the fact that her third donor was her first adult donor – a young woman in her twenties. But Rose is profoundly grateful for all three of her donors. She explains, “It is hard to describe the gratitude I feel for all three of my donors and their families. It is a debt that can never be repaid, and I can only hope that they find some comfort knowing that their loved one was able to save lives.”

Rose honors her donors every day by taking care of her health and enjoying her life. The difference in her quality of life was immensely better very quickly after her surgery. Rose says she finally feels “normal” after being so sick for so many years. Her joy is renewed, and she is savoring time with her partner, family, and friends, staying active with long walks and playing with her dog, and cooking and eating all her favorite foods again. The best part, Rose says, is “I feel like I can finally plan for my future and look forward to it without constantly questioning whether I will live to see another year.”

For those who wonder if they should register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor, Rose encourages, “There are no down sides to being a donor!” She acknowledges that it’s scary to think about death, but says, “we can make decisions now that can affect our impact” and allow us to save lives and give the gifts of health and sight, even after we’re gone.