Mary Jo Renner

Photo courtesy of Mary Jo Renner

Recently Mary Jo Renner walked up the bleachers to watch her son's basketball game. That might not sound remarkable, but Renner did it without losing her breath — a major accomplishment for a woman who received a new heart in August 2002.

Renner, now 41, was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, or an enlarged left ventricle of her heart, when she was 26. At an age when many young adults are advancing careers or starting families, Renner felt her life crashing down around her.

"I had always been health conscious, but I'd never been able to jog more than two miles. I thought that was normal," says Renner. "When I exercised, it felt like my heart skipped a beat sometimes. My mother kept insisting I get it checked out."

After diagnosing Renner's heart condition, her hometown physician told the young married woman that pregnancy could result in her death within the first trimester. He scheduled an appointment for her at Mayo Clinic in Rochester for further evaluation.

"Roger and I always assumed we'd have children, so hearing that I shouldn't get pregnant was terrible news," says Renner, who lives in Yankton, S.D.

Transplant in her future

Renner made the first of many trips to Mayo Clinic in 1988. Physicians there predicted that a heart transplant was in her future.

During the next several years, Renner's symptoms increased gradually, but the couple forged ahead with building a family, adopting Alex in 1989 and Katie in 1991. Renner received the first of several implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) in 1992 to regulate her failing heart. An ICD is a small device implanted in the chest to continuously monitor heart rhythm, pace the heart and deliver electrical shocks when needed to control abnormal, rapid heartbeats.

"I was an elementary school teacher, and I had to quit teaching because I didn't have enough energy to be a teacher, mom and wife," says Renner. "Ten years later, I couldn't climb stairs, push a grocery cart, ride a bike or throw a ball to my kids. Just taking a shower was exhausting."

In August 2001, Renner was put on a list for a heart transplant at Mayo Clinic. One year later, she received a new heart.

The perfect heart

"By the time of my transplant, my quality of life had gone downhill and I was so limited in what I could do that it was a relief to be told the perfect heart was waiting for me," says Renner. "You never know for sure if you will get a matching heart. The wait was stressful, but I got through it with faith and support from my friends and family."

Renner was hospitalized at Mayo Clinic for 10 days before the transplant and 17 days afterward. She remained in Rochester at the Gift of Life Transplant House for another three months after that for follow-up care and monitoring.

"The Gift of Life House was wonderful," says Renner. "The other transplant patients and I focused on our health and getting better. We laughed and cried together, and developed bonds and friendships that will last a lifetime."

"By the time I got out of the hospital, I had very little pain," she says. "Two weeks after I went home, I began to feel stronger. Now, less than a year after receiving a new heart, I appreciate being able to take deep breaths and climb stairs. I have even been able to help strip wallpaper in our home."

Renner is effusive about her healthcare team at Mayo Clinic — particularly the transplant physicians and nurse coordinators.

"I felt like my cardiology and transplant team members were interested in me as a person," says Renner. "One of the doctors saw me when I was first diagnosed, has coached me along the way for 14 years, and is still there. He has called me at home a few times to check on me as well as when I was in my hometown hospital. He wanted to hear directly from me how I felt. He even brought me a bag of candy during his hospital rounds one morning."

Places to go and things to see

Renner looks forward to making up for lost time with her family. "We sacrificed a lot because of my health, so we have lots of places to go and things to do now," she says. "I don't need to run a marathon. I just want to do things like hike and bike and play tag with my kids. This new heart should last a lifetime, and I'm going to take care of myself and enjoy every minute of it."

Renner has special recognition for another family's loss. "I have gotten to fulfill my dreams — first, becoming a teacher and a parent, then, getting a heart transplant," she says. "The transplant and my life today were made possible thanks to my donor and his or her family. I am so sorry they are grieving and missing a loved one. I pray that they realize what a beautiful and precious gift they have given me. They gave me life — a life I will treasure."

Postscript August 2004. A recent note from Mary Jo said "I accomplished some major activities I'd been hoping to do since transplant. I went slalom water skiing (had to give up water skiing 16 years ago when they diagnosed my heart condition and that was very difficult for me because I'd been skiing since the age of 8 yrs. old). We also just finished a weeklong family vacation to Colorado and Wyoming. While there I rode a tram to the top of Pike's Peak, went whitewater rafting, horseback riding and did some hiking and rock climbing in the mountains. It was awesome to be able to do these activities with my family again. The miracle of transplantation is so alive in my life! Once again, I am so thankful for the gift of life given to me by a total stranger. His or her heart beats on in me and has given me a whole new life — a life I thoroughly enjoy and treasure!