The idea of organ donation is one of the highest forms of voluntary offering and altruism. In many cases, transplantation is the only way to save a patient. In fact, a donor can save up to 8 other people who are in need! However, finding a compatible donor is extremely hard, plus there are already inadequate donors. This man was lucky enough to have a successful heart transplant at his 32 years.
When he needed to express his gratitude, he surprised his donor’s parents by cycling all over the country to meet them. He cycled all across the country to greet them, but little did he know they would have this crazy reaction... Mike Cohen has this amazing story that can easily bring you to tears. Gratitude is one of the most powerful feelings, and this man had to thank his heart donor’s parents for offering him a second chance in life. Their reaction when he surprised them was not what he was prepared for...
For Mike, life before getting diagnosed was amazing. He would always be around people who loved him from a little kid, so he has gained much love in his life.
Always dreamt big and had an extraordinary passion for bikes. He would never imagine that a few years later, all this was about to change...
If there is something you should know about Mike’s life before getting diagnosed is that he was very active. He loved working out, cycling and surfing.
However, that didn’t last long. Life had other plans for Mike, and it was terrible...
Mike got diagnosed with cancer. That meant no cycling, no surfing, and no fun days full of activities. It couldn’t have been worse for Mike.
Having to stay at home as if he was in quarantine was a true nightmare for him. He started chemotherapy, hoping that he would get better. Little did he know what would happen a few months later...
While he was in San Diego, California, Mike was living his best life when an unexpected heart attack came to destroy Mike’s happiness. He was devastated, could not believe that his whole life was about to change.
And his condition worsened...
So much emotion was going through his entire being. His life condition was critical.
Only an open-heart surgery would help him stay alive. But this has its risks, so he was unsure if he was going to make it...
After being on an open-heart surgery for many hours, doctors announced the bad news to the family; the surgery was unsuccessful.
The Cohen’s family was in denial of their new reality, begging doctors to do something to save their one and only son....
The possibility for Mike to not see his loved ones was beyond his imagination. Unfortunately, there was nothing that doctors could do, his heart was just not working as it should, and that was irreversible.
Mike had to do one more surgery, and that was it. No one knew if he was coming out of it alive...
When Mike woke up from his second open-heart surgery, he was informed that he had no option but to get a heart transplant. That was the only way to be kept alive.
Mike knowing how hard it is to find a compatible transplant and an available donor lost his hope. He simply gave up...
Mike had to go through chemotherapy while waiting for a heart donor. As days passed, he started to feel weaker and weaker with no will to live.
You can’t really enjoy life when you know that it is going to end soon, can you? Mike was going through the toughest phase of his life when a doctor made this huge announcement to Mike and his family that was about to turn everything upside down...
While struggling, being on the verge of life, the miracle happened. There was an available heart donor. This was the best day in Mike’s life, and he was the happiest he had ever been before.
Well, having an available heart donor meant that someone else had not made it through. And James’s story, the man’s who donated his heart to Mike, was a tough one that really broke Mike...
James Mazzucchelli is the man that saved Mike. His life was wonderful as a Navy doctor. He was a flight surgeon and was a very important member of the staff.
Unfortunately, he got struck by the tail rotor of a helicopter at Camp Pendleton in California. James had this one dream...
James’s biggest dream was to be able to save people’s lives. And so he did during his career as a flight surgeon. What’s great about him is that he continued to save lives even after his death.
This man is so precious, he is a true blessing. So, this time, he gave his heart literally to another man that was about to die...
Finding a compatible heart donor was a true challenge, but that didn’t necessarily mean that the surgery would be successful. Mike had been so strong during this journey.
But now, he had to be stronger than ever. This was the most dangerous procedure Mike had to go through...
Mike did it; he woke up from his third hourless open-heart surgery, which ended with great success. He had never felt such a relief in his life. All kinds of emotions run through Mike’s head, who was very emotional after the procedure.
He had won. His life was about to get back to normal. Well, with some difficulties...
Recovery was pretty tough. Having to get your life together after three massive open-heart surgeries is a big deal. Mike had to face some serious complications, such as difficulties in breathing and moving.
Overall, he was getting better and better, focusing and enjoying every day of his new life. Mike got the most important lesson in his life...
Only when you experience extremely difficult situations you get to appreciate life in depth. Even though Mike was a happy man before his adventure, he truly appreciated life after his heart transplant. Life just made more sense to him. His life motto was now ‘Always focus on your goal. Never give up. Take your time.
Breathe. Focus. Live. This is your life. Earn it.’ Even though everything seemed to turn back to normal, Mike had one last thing to do...
Mike Cohen is a humble man. After his heart transplant, he was so grateful for getting a second chance in life that he wanted to meet and thank James’s parents in person.
Unfortunately, they lived all across the country, and Mike was too weak to travel all over there. Then he came up with this unbelievable idea...
Mike had this super crazy idea; he would wait for some months to recover, and then he would meet James’s parents. But he wasn’t going by plane, train or car.
That was not how he wanted to do it. His plan was something completely different and definitely crazier...
Since cycling had been Mike’s love since he was very young, he felt that he had to go and meet them by bike. But, of course, he would wait until it would be safe for him to do that. His cancer took cycling away from him, and James’s heart allowed him to cycle again.
So, this was kind of symbolic to Mike. But was that risky for Mike? Well, yes...
Mike was wise enough to contact his doctors and discuss with them what he was about to do. His doctors not only didn’t stop him from going on this ride but helped him by giving him new meditation to support his body.
Of course, they advised him on what he should be careful of during his journey. Mike was ready to go, even though he was afraid that his body might not take it...
This strong man managed to cycle across the country and did 1,426 miles after three open-heart surgeries. His strength was both physical and mental.
Not many people would do that, and that’s incredible. It was time to surprise James’s parents...
Mike first reached out to James’s grave at Jacksonville National Cemetery. ‘My intuition felt extremely aware and connected to my surroundings,’ Mike said.
He paid his respects and took some time to appreciate the moment. After that, he was ready to greet James’s parents for the first time...
The big moment was there. Mike was finally meeting the parents of the man that saved his life. James’s mum, Cristine, gave Mike a big hug, and then he touched his chest to feel his heartbeat.
She was now listening to her son’s heartbeat through another man’s body. This moment was very emotional for both Mike and James’s family.
Mike would not have been prouder for himself. And so were James’s parents.
They were thrilled to see their son’s heart giving a second chance to another man who a few months ago was about to die...
Organ transplant recipients are encouraged to establish a level of communication with their donor’s family. And this came up to be the greatest decision Mike had ever made.
He was the happiest he had ever been in his 32 years of life.
Mike’s journey to the Jacksonville National Cemetery, where he met James’s parents, was perfect for testing his body.
He proved himself that he was now capable of doing almost anything he did before this whole adventure with his health.
“Ever since I was diagnosed with cancer at 18, I’ve wanted to share my story to help inspire other people going through similar circumstances or any difficult times in their lives, for them to know they can overcome anything, to reach their goals.”, Mike said.
Mike never felt ashamed of his scars. On the contrary, he loved them because they were there to remind them of how strong he had been through in the past.
He never felt that he had to hide them.
What’s weird but amazing is that Mike felt more like himself with his new heart. It just felt right for him.
He was now able to go back to his everyday life, which included all the things he loved, such as cycling and surfing. This man is definitely living a happy life....