George & Bev: A Journey of Resilience, Hope, and Faith

In the quiet town of Taber, Alberta, George and Bev built a life filled with love, hard work, and family. With four children and a successful construction business, they had every reason to believe their future would be filled with normalcy. But life had a different plan—one that would test their strength, faith, and resilience in unimaginable ways.

The First Signs of Trouble

George had always been the picture of health. A builder by trade, he was strong and active, never showing any signs of heart trouble—until 1997. That year, his father passed away suddenly from cardiac arrest, a devastating shock to the family. At the time, there was no understanding of any genetic link. It was simply assumed to be a heart attack caused by clogged arteries.

A few months later, George began experiencing heart palpitations. He would feel his heart race unpredictably, a sensation he had grown up hearing his father mention in passing. The family never thought much of it, assuming it was just a strange but harmless quirk. But the episodes became more frequent and severe. One summer day, during a camping trip, George felt an overwhelming wave of dizziness and sweating while playing volleyball. His heart wouldn't slow down.

When they arrived at the hospital, doctors were stunned—his heart rate was at 250 beats per minute. Despite this dangerously high rhythm, George remained conscious and standing, a testament to his physical strength. Medical staff immediately shocked his heart back into a normal rhythm, but it was clear something was very wrong.

A Relentless Battle for Answers

Over the next year and a half, George was in and out of the hospital, spending 36 weeks under medical supervision. Doctors tried every possible treatment—medications, IV therapies, and even an ablation to correct the heart’s electrical system. Nothing worked. His heart continued to spiral out of control, and by 1999, it was clear they needed to take drastic measures.

George was flown by air ambulance to Toronto, where specialists attempted a 3D mapping procedure known as a basket ablation. This cutting-edge technique was supposed to help locate and eliminate the source of the irregular rhythms. Again, it failed.

Desperate to give him some relief, doctors performed an experimental procedure, cutting his sympathetic nerve to reduce the arrhythmias. But when it was all said and done, the lead cardiologist delivered the news no one wanted to hear: George needed a heart transplant.

The Wait for a Miracle

George was sent back to Alberta, where he would have to endure the grueling process of getting listed for transplant. At first, one doctor refused to put him on the list, believing he could still be managed with medication. But Bev wasn’t willing to accept that answer. She fought tirelessly for George, pushing for another evaluation.

Finally, after extensive testing, he was officially listed in June 1999. By this time, his health was declining rapidly. A bed had been set up in the living room because he no longer had the strength to make it upstairs. His days were filled with exhaustion, and even crawling took immense effort.

Then, on August 16th, at 2:30 in the morning, the phone rang.

“George, we have a heart. Would you like it?”

Without hesitation, he said yes. But there was a complication—the donor heart carried the CMV virus, which George had never had. Accepting the heart meant taking on a risk of serious complications. Despite this, they chose to move forward.

A New Heart, A New Fight

The transplant surgery, performed in Edmonton, was a success. It took just three and a half hours, faster than expected. But the real shock came afterward—George had never been prepared for the sheer volume of medication he would have to take. He was handed over 60 pills a day, a relentless schedule that left him struggling to adjust.

Then came another hurdle. His body began rejecting the heart due to the CMV virus. Doctors responded aggressively with steroids and other treatments, closely monitoring his heart with biopsies. Over time, his body adapted, and the rejection subsided. The new heart was working, and for the first time in years, George had color in his face. Friends and family were stunned at how pink and healthy he looked. No one had realized just how pale and gray he had been before the transplant.

A Life of Purpose and Art

Despite the hardships, George found a new passion—painting. When he was first recovering, his children bought him a set of acrylic paints, encouraging him to try something creative. What started as a simple pastime turned into a remarkable talent. George’s paintings, many of which capture breathtaking landscapes, have become a way for him to give back. Every year, he donates a painting to the STARS air ambulance auction, raising thousands of dollars to support the service that once saved his life.

Each painting contains a hidden heart—a symbol of his journey and the precious gift he was given.

A Family’s Legacy

Years later, genetic testing would reveal that George’s condition was not caused by a virus, as initially suspected, but by a genetic mutation affecting his entire family. Tragically, in 2018, their son Curtis passed away from complications related to the same condition. However, in their immense grief, they found solace in knowing that Curtis became an organ donor, giving life to others just as George had once received.

Now, their daughter is being closely monitored, and advancements in medical technology have given her access to a specialized pacemaker to help manage her condition. George, meanwhile, continues to defy expectations. Although his transplanted heart has developed blockages over time, the placement of stents has improved his health dramatically.

Their experience has also highlighted the gaps in transplant care, particularly the lack of community support for transplant recipients in rural areas. They hope for a future where patients have more resources, support groups, and financial assistance for travel and medication costs.

Despite everything, their philosophy remains simple: Live for life, not for death. They don’t dwell on uncertainties but instead cherish each day as a blessing for God. George’s journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the life-saving impact of organ donation.

Join the Conversation

February is Heart Health Month, a time to honour transplant recipients like George and to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. Have you registered as an organ donor? Have you had the conversation with your family? Your decision could one day be the gift that saves a life.