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Merle Zuel
Member
Username: Merle_zuel
Post Number: 3
Registered: 12-2009
| | Posted on Friday, December 18, 2009 - 10:17 pm: | 
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Merle Zuel was first diagnosed with a defective aortic valve at the age of ten. Leading a rather normal life until age 34, Merle was admitted to the hospital with severe congestive heart failure on January 1st, 1996. After many years of treatment and medical interventions, Merle was evaluated for transplant in late 2005. It was determined then that an aortic valve replacement would be done. Surviving for another year, Merle grew stronger, but his heart continued to be a problem. Transplant was an inevitability.
On December 18th, 2006 Merle was activated for status 1A on national transplant waiting list. 67 days later he received a new heart at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute. His met his fiancé Kim, a respiratory therapist, at the hospital during the evaluation, and later became romantically involved after a chance meeting at the music venue where Merle worked part time as a doorman. On the first anniversary of his transplant, Merle participated in a donor family memorial service.
Merle has organized an annual concert called MerleJam, which raises money for other heart transplant patients. “I was lucky enough to get a second chance and want to do whatever I can to help others.” On New Years Day, 2009, Merle rode on the Donate Life float in the Rose Parade in Pasadena with many other donor families and recipients.
http://web.mac.com/zuel/iWeb/MERLEJAM.COM/My%20Book.html
Merle Zuel
Heart Transplant Recipient Feb 23rd 2007
Author Hearts Like Mine
Founder-MerleJam Transplant Fund
TRANSPLANT EXPERIENCE AMBASSADOR |
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Hostess Rise'
Forum Leader
Username: Risa
Post Number: 11794
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 20, 2009 - 11:52 am: |
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Hi Merle
Tell us more about your Movie when you get the chance. Great blog!
Enjoy your Life!
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Merle Zuel
Member
Username: Merle_zuel
Post Number: 6
Registered: 12-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, December 20, 2009 - 12:09 pm: |
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I entered an online short movie titled "Hearts Like Mine" on the spur of the moment last year when they announced the Donate Life Hollywood Film Festival. It's a brief synapsis of my story told in a narrative with some cutaway shots of the floragraphs from the 2009 Donate Life Float. The book gives a more complete version of the story, but the movie is a nice summary of my journey. Once on the site there is also a link to a movie under "pathology" which is a review of my explanted old heart 17 days after transpalnt. I went to the pathology lab and looked at it with the staff there and we video taped the review.
http://web.mac.com/zuel/iWeb/MERLEJAM.COM/Hearts%20Like%20Mine-Movie%20Trailer.h tml
Merle Zuel
Heart Transplant Recipient Feb 23rd 2007
Author Hearts Like Mine
Founder-MerleJam Transplant Fund
TRANSPLANT EXPERIENCE AMBASSADOR |
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Hostess Rise'
Forum Leader
Username: Risa
Post Number: 11817
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - 09:59 am: |
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Hi Merle
You are brave to hold your own heart. I had my first transplant in 96 and I had read about others looking at their old lungs. I just do not think I could do that. That leaves me in the squeamish arena.
I could not see your movie from my end. I have been having some weird things happening with my computer lately.
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Merle Zuel
Member
Username: Merle_zuel
Post Number: 7
Registered: 12-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - 10:09 am: |
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I don't think it was brave, as much as morbid curiosity. After being devastated by congestive heart failure for over 11 years, I wanted to see the cause of my misery. I found it to be very therapeutic. I also learned about the disease process and how lucky I was to have survived as long as I did.
Merle Zuel
Heart Transplant Recipient Feb 23rd 2007
Author Hearts Like Mine
Founder-MerleJam Transplant Fund
TRANSPLANT EXPERIENCE AMBASSADOR |
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