April Fool's Day No Joke

Andy is recovering rapidly after he discovered on April Fool's Day that he would receive the blessing of a new heart, rather than an April Fool's joke. "I'm not kidding; I'm really getting a new heart," he told several drumline students. Andy was sitting up in a chair next to his bed eating Jello just six hours after his heart transplant--amazing huh?

Today Andy reports that he has taken several laps around the ICU halls and feels like he is returning to his past energy level. This is a far cry from how he felt when he was on medication to "squeeze" his heart into beating just last week. When he arrived at LDS Hospital Sunday evening, the nurses were a little surprised to be prepping someone who was totally lucid for surgery, "We don't usually have a conversation with patients while we are prepping them for a heart transplant...you are very lucky," they said.

Andy skated on to the heart transplant list on March 27 and discovered on April 1st that he had hit the heart lottery, he said. He had the right blood type, height, and weight, and his situation was a little more dire than we all knew. Now, just four short days later, he is learning about the pills that will help him sustain life, and maybe help him return to the golf course someday. If his progress continues as it has, he will most likely leave the ICU for a normal hospital room tomorrow.

According to Andy, he could even be back living in his apartment in Lehi next week as long as he passes his "pill test" and continues his recovery and rest. Meanwhile, he is soaking in every minute of the Masters Golf Tourney this weekend. Andy promises not to rush things to quickly once he returns. He said he will probably take several days off and make sure that he has his medication down since the consequences of missing his daily pills are pretty severe, according to the hospital pharmacist.

Andy would like to thank everyone for their support and prayers; he feels extremely fortunate to be in his current situation and have the support of his mother Diane, his sister Vivian, and his Utah family who have been by his side through this challenging time. The nurses say no visits yet, but maybe Sunday or Monday.

Miracle Man Faces Cops

We're back ... Last time we left you Andy Garcia was recovering nicely and back to most of his usual drumline responsibilities. However, during the past month Andy had spent a couple of weeks having tests at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. Doctors said that his heart was functioning at approximately 25 percent of capacity and that he would definitely need a heart transplant in the near future. Hmmmmm ... just two weeks later Andy's name was officially placed on the regional heart transplant list. Fast forward to the present ...

Loud pounding abruptly awakened Andy from his afternoon Sunday Slumber. "Are you Andy Garcia?" two uniformed policemen asked. "Yes, what's up?" Andy replied inquisitively. "The hospital has been trying to contact you; they have a heart and they need you at LDS Hospital right now." Andy quickly scurried to his car wearing his signature shorts and a cautious smile.

Amazingly, just two weeks has passed and there is a heart that matches Andy's requirements. Long story short ... he received the heart transplant last night and is now resting somewhat comfortably in stable condition at LDS Hospital. I even spoke with him this morning. Yes, he had questions about the drumline, and no, I didn't respond to them other than, "We'll take care of it and the kids will do fine." Andy's vital signs are strong, at least stable, and the doctor mentioned that he was impressed at the progress he has already made. Now for the six week recovery.

Jody, one of Andy's protective body guards and nurses, asked that no visitors come to see him at the hospital for at least one to two weeks. Stay tuned to this blog for a time to be named later when visits will be allowed. His sister Vivian and Mother (Cub) are now sitting at the Burbank airport waiting for their Southwest flight to arrive in SLC at 6:30 p.m. The nurses station did say that we could make signs, send balloons, flowers, or get-well cards -- just don't try to deliver them to his room in person ;o)