Jackie Parker

Born in San Angelo, TX

My heart journey started in September 1989, at the age of 7, when I was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma.  I went through one year of chemo and six weeks of radiation.

One of the chemo drugs I was given was Adriamycin, which has been known to cause a weakening of the heart muscle.

In my mid to late-20s, I started having trouble breathing, thinking it was allergies. It turned out, I had the beginning of congestive heart failure. I was struggling with getting answers on my care, so a dear friend suggested to me that I needed to see the Haddad brothers.

In March 2015, I met Dr. Rudy Haddad.  From then on, it seemed like a whirlwind, Dr. Haddad realized I was in full-blown heart failure.

In April 2015, he had me flown to Houston, where I met the heart transplant team at Houston Methodist Hospital. They were able to get me stabilized with medication and LVAD. It was during my LVAD surgery they realized that I was in left and right heart failure. In May 2015, I was listed at the top of the heart transplant list and on June 18, 2015, I received my NEW heart. 

Since heart transplant, I have been able to experience so many things that I wasn’t able to before. I love the Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys, and have been lucky enough to see them play in person. I’ve been able to travel with a dear friend and fellow survivor. We've had great adventures together, which wouldn’t have been possible before my transplant.

I have become involved with the Turn the Paige Foundation, a local organization that raises awareness for organ donation and helps patients in the Concho Valley.

I've also been able to help with animal rescue again. I have two beautiful nieces that this new heart helps me keep up with.

And, because of Dr. Haddad, my transplant team, my family, friends and my donor, I have been blessed with many more adventures to come.