After undergoing a heart transplant, one man says life is the best it’s ever been

When Courtney Garner began experiencing shortness of breath, weight gain, dizzy spells, and fainting, it was clear something was seriously wrong.

He was diagnosed with advanced heart failure, a disease in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood throughout the body, which affects about 600,000 people in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association. Characterized by extreme shortness of breath and fatigue even while at rest, advanced heart failure can also lead to fluid retention, which explained Garner’s weight gain. He received the news that he needed a heart transplant and was placed on the transplant waiting list.

But he needed prompt treatment. While he waited for a new heart, Garner received a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to help his heart pump blood and distribute it throughout the body. He spent nearly two years undergoing treatment for his heart failure.

On June 24, 2024, Garner received his new heart. That day changed his life forever.

“Cardiac care doesn’t just save a life, it restores it,” says Dr. William Fischer, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Aurora Health Care who performed Garner’s LVAD surgery.

Now 53 years old, Garner is living life to the fullest once again: He returned to his favorite activities, like swimming and playing water sports, thanks to his new heart and the team at Aurora St. Luke’s that gave him a second chance at life. He supports others facing similar diagnoses, reassuring them that life after heart failure is possible.

“I feel like a new person – life is the best it’s been,” he says.

And for Dr. Fischer and the rest of the Aurora Health Care team, that’s what it’s all about.

“Seeing patients like Courtney thriving again after heart failure is incredibly rewarding,” he says. “His recovery shows what’s possible when advanced cardiac care and patient determination come together.”

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