Listen to my interview with WomensRadio.com
Listen to my podcast with MentalHelp.net

Frequently Asked Questions about Dying to Live

Why did you write "Dying to Live"?

I wrote the book for a few reasons.  The book poured out of me.  I wasn't a writer at the beginning.  I never even kept a journal.  But when I became sick and went to the doctor often, I was so stressed by everything I was going through and all I had to face, that I needed to take notes about questions I had for the doctors.  So, without even knowing it, my research for the book had begun.

After my heart transplant, my experience was so profound that I needed to share about it with other people.

And of course, I wanted to honor my donor's family, and all donor families.

Have you noticed any personality changes since the transplant?  Do you feel different than you did before?

This is probably the most frequently asked question when people learn that I have a new heart.  There are at least two aspects to this issue. 

First of all, there is a lot of evidence to show that cellular memory is occurring for some transplant recipients.  In other words, along with the organ, they received some memories from the organ donor.  In my case, I wasn't a swimmer or a writer before my transplant.  My donor loved to swim and write.  I'll let the readers draw their own conclusion about that.

I am not interested in what I call the phenomenal, or Hollywood, aspect of cellular memory.  My transplant journey was too profound to reduce it to an experience of, "He liked chicken nuggets, and now I crave chicken nuggets, even though I used to be a vegetarian."  I want people to see the deeper value of my transplant, rather than the "chicken nugget" aspect.

Will this book appeal to a broader public, or is it directed more specifically to the transplant community?

Readers' comments from the wider community have convinced me that this book has appeal to many people, whether or not they are facing a medical crisis.  What I learned about trust, faith, courage, reaching out for support and the willingness to receive help when it is offered, is what makes this book resonate to people everywhere.  Most people are better at giving than receiving, and Dying to Live provides insights around that issue.

Also, it's a riveting and quick read, and people are inspired by it.  I've heard from many readers that their lives changed after reading Dying to Live.

What does your family say about your book?

They're as proud of me as I am of them.  They've been through so much with me, facing the possibility of my death, my successful transplant, my recovery, my victories at the transplant competitions . . . all my trials and tribulations.  They feel honored and included by the book, which is perfect, because I wanted to honor and include them.

What do you think your heart donor, Christopher would say about your book?

I think he would like it.  It is a tribute to him and his family!  He was a beautiful young man.  I am blessed to carry his heart and perhaps, if you believe in cellular memory, I have also received some of his spirit and energy.  Christopher lives on through me, and also through my book. 

Are you still in touch with your donor's family?  How are they doing and how do they feel about the book?

They lost a child.  I triumphed with life.  That truth is a bittersweet-ness that Christopher's family and I openly acknowledge.  But they are proud of me, of my athletic accomplishments, and of my book.  The first time we met, Christopher's brother told me that his brother's heart was in the right place.  Christopher's parents say I am a living memorial to their son.

Christopher's mom told me that, by reading Dying to Live, she learned about the necessity to reach out for support.  When she told me that, I thought, mission accomplished.  If I never sold another book, my donor's mom benefited from it.  Wow.  

We stay in touch, and they are doing better all the time.  And still, in the end, they have lost a beloved son.  I never forget that, and I always send them love and prayers.

What is your life like now?  What are your plans? 

I'm busy.  I work out with weights and swimming. I spend time with my family. I manage a very successful after-school Homework Center at my local library. Whenever I have the opportunity, I speak publicly about my journey, about Dying to Live, and the issues of organ and tissue donation. I try to live each day in a way that honors my donor and his family.

I have been asked to write a proposal for a follow-up book to Dying to Live. I am not in any rush to do this. I'm enjoying life, one day at a time.

Listen to my interview with WomensRadio.com
Listen to my podcast with MentalHelp.net