Tulsan decides on a second chance at life after seeing News on 6 story on heart transplants

A heart transplant is the gift of a second chance but for many it is not an easy decision. But suppose you got your transplant because of a story you saw on television. That's how it happened for

Tuesday, December 23rd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A heart transplant is the gift of a second chance but for many it is not an easy decision. But suppose you got your transplant because of a story you saw on television. That's how it happened for Jimmy Scott.

As News on 6 reporter Rick Wells explains, he got a new heart on the eve of his birthday and just in time for Christmas.

"I'm a lucky guy to be sitting here." Jimmy Scott is recovering from a heart transplant. A transplant he desperately needed but didn't want.

"Never really heard anything good that came out of stuff like this." He was lying in ICU, at St Francis, had made up his mind, not to get on the transplant list.

On TV, he saw a story I did with Chuck Stophel of transplant TEAMS about an apartment they have for recipients and their families to use. And he saw Tim Hale. He had just gotten his new heart and was doing well. "After I seen that I knew I could do it. If he could do it I could do it."

He got his new heart on the 11th, less than two weeks ago, the day before his 61st birthday, what a gift. "It's the best couldn't be any better."

His wife Sue says he's like a little kid, it's hard to get him to slow down. "He wants to do everything, he can't do it fast enough."

He feels great, he happily chokes down a fist full of pills several times a day. "See that's dinner and breakfast all in one."

He's in for his weekly check up and Dr Ed Morris says his progress is remarkable. "Looking great."

The future looks great too, as do his chances of seeing his daughter become a nurse and watching his grandkids grow up. He even wants to get back to building and racing cars.

"Everyday's a new day from here on with me." A new philosophy for the rest of his life.

Transplant TEAMS is a support group that works with recipients and their families. They now have two apartments for those folks to use, and those apartments could always need more furnishings. If you like to help or would like information about the work they do call at 918-523-3400.