Women's Club Donates To Victims Resource Center

Ann Adams

By BONNIE ADAMS badams@leader.net
 Saturday, January 03, 2004 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 8A 





KINGSTON TWP. - Every three months, Tom Doan gives up five little pieces of
his transplanted heart. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 An incision is made in his neck so a catheter can be pushed through a blood
vessel to sample his heart for signs of rejection. He likens the painful
procedure in Philadelphia to someone trying to stuff a pen into his neck. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Doan, 41, experiences fatigue and depression, takes 25 pills a day and
gives himself insulin injections for diabetes. His kidneys are failing and he
might need another transplant. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Life's a struggle. That's not going to change," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And yet, he considers himself a lucky man because he is alive and has a
loving family. Tom, his wife, Charlene, and daughters Shannon, 15, and
Kristine, 11, live in a small, rural home. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's a hard existence at times," he said. "If it weren't for them, I'd
have given up long ago." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Tom, who underwent a heart transplant in September 2000, describes himself
as having a "glass half empty" attitude. He says Charlene is more upbeat. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Seventeen years ago, while Charlene and Tom were engaged, Tom had
open-heart surgery in Philadelphia to correct a birth defect. On Feb. 12,
2000, Tom went to Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, after experiencing chest pain
for several days. Tests showed the birth defect had not been completely
repaired. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Charlene, 38, and the girls visited Tom weekly at Temple University
Hospital in Philadelphia during the seven months he awaited a transplant. They
were at the hospital when he received a donor heart. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I wasn't supposed to live. I'm happy to be here," he said recently. He
wears a bright red T-shirt that says, "I got my heart at Temple." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Doans are grateful for Tom's second chance at life and family and
friends' support. But they are well aware of the challenges of keeping him
well. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's not the fairy tale you think it's going to be," Charlene said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Tom, who ran a car-repair business, is too fatigued to work. "I get so
tired some days, I can't get out of bed," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Charlene, who works as a licensed practical nurse, said Tom's illness has
taken a financial toll. She said their daughters have come to terms with their
father's illness, though they tire of him being sick. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Tom has struggled recently with depression but doesn't know what it will
take to rid himself of it. "My ambition's very low right now," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 His sensitivity to cold makes it difficult for him to be outdoors in
winter, but he enjoys being in the yard or working on cars in warm weather.
Tom drives and takes his daughters where they need to go. One day a week, he
goes out to play pool. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Charlene and Tom met at a roller-rink when she was 14 and he was 17. She
said his illness has not strained their relationship. She remains dedicated to
him, no matter what. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's Tom and it will always be Tom,' she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Tom said they often tell each other they love one another. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "A lot of times, families break up over this because of the stress. I'm one
of the lucky ones." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Bonnie Adams, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7241. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER STAFF PHOTO/PETE G. WILCOX &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Heart-transplant patient Tom Doan is surrounded by daughter Shannon, left,
his wife, Charlene, and daughter Kristine. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Man With New Heart Endures Daily Battle There's Fatigue, Depression, Pills, But Tom Doan, 41, Knows Transplant Cheated Death.