After receiving a heart transplant at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in 2023, Rick Ethridge gives back through The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital to support research, innovation, continued education for nurses, and nursing scholarships all to help other patients on their health care journeys. He is driven by gratitude for his organ donor as well as for the health care team that saved his life and continues to innovate patient care. Rick tells his story below.
I was the 1,064th heart transplant at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
My experience wasn’t easy, but the 1,063 people before me had a harder time because the transplant team learns something new every time they perform a transplant. I’m grateful for the innovation happening at the Transplant Center, and this is why I give to The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
I was at work when I collapsed and later found out I was in heart failure. I was just turning 50. A few weeks before, I thought I had the flu. I now know it was a heart attack that damaged my heart.
The Barnes-Jewish Hospital cardiac team treated me with medication for several weeks, but I quickly progressed to end-stage heart failure and needed a heart transplant. To hear “end-stage” anything rattles your brain. I got my life in order and checked into the hospital on May 31, 2023.
While I was waiting for a transplant, the nurses, doctors, patient technicians, housekeeping staff, and everyone there put me at ease. Even though I was seriously ill, they made sure I had hope. It seems everyone goes above and beyond, and they really care. Another time, I was in the hospital over my birthday, and Dr. Amit Pawale reminded everyone to wish me happy birthday. He also called in while he was on vacation to check on me and his other patients.
On June 27, I received a new heart. I’m so appreciative of my organ donor and the donor family. It’s a huge sacrifice and a huge gift. I’m not living for myself now, but I’m living for my donor, too. Today, I walk 5 miles a day and am more health conscious. I do the best I can so the donor and family would be proud of me.
The hospital is doing incredible things, so I contribute when I can. But the real inspiration for my giving is the dedication of all the people, including family, friends, and the entire Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine staff, who helped me through the transplant process, and the continued support they still provide me two years later. My mom and sisters give through the Foundation too because they know it’s important to me.