Name: Tom Brock
Age: 65
Home: Hartland
Transplant: Heart
Why did you need a transplant and when did it happen?
In the summer of 1987, I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy,
a disease affecting my heart muscle, and was transferred to Henry Ford Hospital. I remained in intensive care for over six months with an enlarged heart and was placed on the heart transplant list.
My health recovered enough that I could go back to work part time. I was engaged to get married, but two weeks before our wedding my fiancée was driving to pick up her wedding dress and was struck by a drunk driver head-on, suffered a traumatic head injury, and never fully recovered. Shortly after that, my health deteriorated to a point where I could no longer live without 24/7 hospital care. I was back in intensive care, my health deteriorating rapidly, and finally after eight months decided to have a priest give me last rites. I had lost all my will to live.
Fortunately — or, should I say, miraculously — I was offered a new heart within the hour. God had other plans for me. My transplant was May 2, 1989.
How are you doing now?
After 35 years, my overall health is OK, but the immunosuppressants that I have been taking for so long due to my transplant have affected my kidney function, and now I am struggling with stage 4 kidney disease. I manage the best I can and try to smile wherever I go, surrounding myself with positive-thinking people. Let’s face it, life is too short to be miserable.
What are the three to five most important events or experiences you’ve been able to enjoy because a donor saved your life?
I became a very religious person. I have a deep love of every stage and form of life, and I don’t understand how some people can be so cruel to others. I won’t even step on an earthworm. Life is so precious.
I had a full career in the automotive industry as an experimental development engineer and also as a machinist. Over the last 35 years, I’ve been granted 12 patents, and my heart transplant gave me the ability to improve my work ethic and my career. I showed up for work early and gave every minute I could. I’m just enthralled with the chance to live a full life with new challenges every day.
I met a beautiful lady, Marie, and have been happily married for 25 years. We both have close-knit families that live all around the United States, and we visit them often. We’ve also traveled to many countries over the years with a passion to continue our journey.
I’m active in my church parish with all sorts of charitable work events and raise funds to support people with disabilities, and who need financial assistance. I always feel the need to try and give back to the community.
If you could talk to your donor or your donor’s family today, what would you say to them?
Words can’t explain how appreciative I am. How do you thank a family that gave you their loved one’s heart? I’ve been extremely blessed to live a healthy and productive life for an extra 35-plus years because of their generosity. They’re always in my thoughts and prayers.
