UNION SPRINGS - They gathered for his benefit, but his spirits are already lifted.
Friends and family of Mark Middleton gathered at the American Legion in
Union Springs Saturday to help raise money for his medical expenses. But Middleton, who received a successful heart transplant at Strong memorial Hospital last August, is optimistic that he will be able to return to his job at Currier Plastics soon.
"I feel great," he said. "I have to go to Strong once a month for a biopsy. The doctors there are excellent people."
Middleton's wife Kathie, who is a nurse, helped her prized patient through his recovery.
"There were some very stressful times," she said.
Middleton's heart problems were first diagnosed when he learned he had a heart murmur during a physical for induction into the military back in the
1970s. In 1976, he started experiencing fatigue and shortness of breath, so he went to the doctor. A heart catheterization showed that Middleton had mitral and aorta valve disease. The mitral valve was repaired.
Almost 30 years later, Middleton again began to experience the symptoms of heart disease. In July, 2004, his aorta was damaged during a routine catheterization and he suffered a heart attack that damaged the left side of his heart beyond repair.
He was transferred to the cardiac care unit at Strong Memorial and was placed on heart life support while he was on the transplant waiting list.
Middleton's family started planning for the fund-raiser in November because there are significant expenses that are not covered by insurance. A chicken dinner with biscuits was available for eat-in or take-out, and donated prizes were auctioned off. Music was provided by No Request DJ Service.
A wall poster in the Legion hall displayed photos of Middleton during his stay in the hospital and featured many of the doctors and other health care professionals that were part of Middleton's recovery process.
Jeanne Cramer, Middleton's sister-in-law, said,
"Mark's always been there to help me out," said Jeanne Cramer, Middleton's sister-in-law. She had visited him in the hospital after his heart attack. "We didn't think he was going to make it through the night. Two months later he had a new heart."
Union Springs Saturday to help raise money for his medical expenses. But Middleton, who received a successful heart transplant at Strong memorial Hospital last August, is optimistic that he will be able to return to his job at Currier Plastics soon.
"I feel great," he said. "I have to go to Strong once a month for a biopsy. The doctors there are excellent people."
Middleton's wife Kathie, who is a nurse, helped her prized patient through his recovery.
"There were some very stressful times," she said.
Middleton's heart problems were first diagnosed when he learned he had a heart murmur during a physical for induction into the military back in the
1970s. In 1976, he started experiencing fatigue and shortness of breath, so he went to the doctor. A heart catheterization showed that Middleton had mitral and aorta valve disease. The mitral valve was repaired.
Almost 30 years later, Middleton again began to experience the symptoms of heart disease. In July, 2004, his aorta was damaged during a routine catheterization and he suffered a heart attack that damaged the left side of his heart beyond repair.
He was transferred to the cardiac care unit at Strong Memorial and was placed on heart life support while he was on the transplant waiting list.
Middleton's family started planning for the fund-raiser in November because there are significant expenses that are not covered by insurance. A chicken dinner with biscuits was available for eat-in or take-out, and donated prizes were auctioned off. Music was provided by No Request DJ Service.
A wall poster in the Legion hall displayed photos of Middleton during his stay in the hospital and featured many of the doctors and other health care professionals that were part of Middleton's recovery process.
Jeanne Cramer, Middleton's sister-in-law, said,
"Mark's always been there to help me out," said Jeanne Cramer, Middleton's sister-in-law. She had visited him in the hospital after his heart attack. "We didn't think he was going to make it through the night. Two months later he had a new heart."
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