COVID Vaccines, Boosters, Masks & More At the latest HeartBrothers Patient Support Group, Massachusetts General Hospital Dr. Camille Kotton announced late-breaking updates on COVID vaccines and heart failure patients. Kotton is the Clinical Director for Transplant and Immunocompromised Host Infectious Diseases at MGH. She also sits on the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. She reported that the CDC was revising its recommendation to heart failure patients—to no

HeartBrothers Foundation hosted its annual symposium on Dec. 2, featuring top doctors and experts who shared important new details in heart failure treatment and transplantation. HeartBrothers co-founder Pat Sullivan outlined goals and plans for the upcoming year, including a new virtual patient support group and heart failure billboard campaign. HeartBrothers members and supporters also spent time chatting, trading health updates and information about medications, new proced

Our first ever VIRTUAL Annual Team HeartBrothers Meeting was held December 10, 2020, with great success. More than 30 of our team members assembled via Zoom for a 5.5-hour meeting. Our annual meetings aim to educate all Team HeartBrothers members on the latest medical breakthroughs and new medications surrounding heart transplantation. And this year, unlike in years past, COVID-19 also made its way into our discussions. The key topic was the COVID-19 vaccine and whether or no

Calling For Donations: HeartSister Camille Frede’s “Gift of Life” Cycling Fundraiser Join our HeartSister Camille Frede, Boston’s first heart and double-lung transplant, as she hosts a 45-minute cycling class to benefit our organization and New England Donor Services. For those wanting to join the class, the $25 registration fee includes: the indoor cycling class, mingling after, an exciting raffle, prizes from Dave & Buster’s and Lucky Strike. To book your bike or to just ma

Our 3rd Annual Meeting on Thursday, November 16th and Friday, November 17th was, once again, a very successful two-day educational experience for all 34 people (a record high!) who attended. Linda Ordway NP, NP – HF & Transplant Services, Tufts Medical Center Heather Cote – NP – Transplant Coordinator, Tufts Medical Center Matthew Boger – Director of State Relations, New England Donor Services Kerry Gaj, NP, NP – Transplant Services, Massachusetts General Hospital Dr. David D

By: Pat Sullivan (Co-Founder) March 8, 2017 To all the Heart Transplant survivors out there: Close your eyes and remember the time before your transplant. Remember just how sick you were. NOW try to say, “I’m having a terrible day today.” …Impossible! I try to start my days by saying, “Thank you, Scotty (my donor). Let’s go do some good with your heart today.” When I do this I rarely get stuck in the doldrums of having an offbeat day. Try it! …Today. …Tomorrow. …The next day.

Larry N. Williams, Jr: It’s All About the Moment Name: Larry N. Williams, Jr. Location: Tufts Medical Center, Pratt 8 (Heart Failure Ward) Diagnosis: Congestive Heart Failure, AFIB, Cardiomyopathy, Heart Failure Transplanted: Currently #1 on Waiting List How I Feel Today: Blessed, grateful, and living it up! Occupation: CEO of Positive Vibes Age: 63 HeartBrother Larry Williams I am incredibly blessed. I live each day to its fullest and I’m grateful for every minute. I’ve als

Bill Chenier, Retired Chef Diagnosis (Age): 4th Grade (Heart Murmur) Transplant: August 1, 2011 After a heart and kidney transplant saved Bill Chenier’s life nearly two years after he lost his youngest son, Scott, to the same congenital heart disease, Bill asked Robyn Passante to write his family’s story. The following Survivor Story is a story of both heartbreak and triumph. Robyn captured it masterfully, conducting several emotional interviews with those involved—including

Thursday, November 3rd and Friday, November 4th marked our 2nd Annual Team HeartBrothers Meeting. A special thanks goes out to our sponsors–CareDx, Inc. and Cytokinetics, Inc.–for making this meeting possible. Heart Failure effects 6.4 million people in North America and our growing team (now with 22 members!) spent the two days training how to provide the best compassionate care to Heart Failure, LVAD and Transplant patients across New England and Upstate New York. CareDx, I

Shoji’s Heart (Original article written by Jacqueline Mitchell | November 19, 2013) When this Tufts dental student learned he needed a transplant, his world changed—but his determination to stay in school did not. Shoji Inomata, D15, didn’t feel good. The second-year dental student was short of breath, and his heart was beating erratically. He knew something was very wrong. But when he walked into the emergency room at Tufts Medical Center in January 2012, he never imagined h

Mike Ashworth Name: Mike Ashworth Location: Warwick, RI Profession: Soccer coach; retired insurance broker Diagnosis: Heart failure / renal failure Transplanted: September 13, 2014 Time on Transplant List: 5 years Mike Ashworth Survivor Story: The Miracle Man How I Feel Today (Feb ’16) I walk 2 miles a day on a treadmill and run errands for family and friends. I’m infinitely better than I was… extremely independent… and happy to still coach soccer. Just A Little Shoulder Pai