See Shawn's story on CBS Austin.

Since September 2021, Shawn has been faithfully waiting for the call that could save his life — the call that a new heart is available. Shawn was a healthy, active 41 year old father and husband in the summer of 2020. At the end of July 2020, Shawn came down with what seemed like a typical stomach bug. A few days later, he was having trouble breathing. He went to the ER and was tested for COVID-19. The test was negative and he was treated for pneumonia. After a few days, he wasn't getting better and went back in for another COVID test. The test was still negative, but the virus had made it to his heart. Shawn was hospitalized and diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He was released from the hospital after a couple of days and was continuing treatments at home through virtual visits.

On September 9th, Shawn went to the ER with back pain. The Doctors discovered that Shawn was in multi-organ failure and he was admitted to the hospital. His heart, lungs, liver and kidneys were all failing. On September 15th, 2020, he was transferred to Heart Hospital of Austin. His heart was only functioning at 10-15% and life support was the only option. It was a 50/50 chance that he would make it home. He was immediately taken to the operating room and put on Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) which provided oxygen to his blood and then pumped through his body to sustain his life.

On October 5, 2020 Shawn was finally healthy enough to have an LVAD (heart pump) put in. This device, which must always be attached to power, allowed him to come home after he regained his strength. Shawn was discharged from the hospital on November 4, 2020, but the journey does not end there.

He was first listed for transplant with Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. In June 2024, he was also listed with Houston Methodist Hospital to expand his donor pool and increase his chances.

When doctors first placed him on the transplant list, they estimated a 12–18 month wait. But heart transplants don’t work like a simple line where you gradually move to the front. Every potential donor match is evaluated based on many medical factors, and those factors can raise or lower the likelihood of receiving an organ at any given time.

Shawn faces several unique challenges:

* At 6’5” and 240 pounds, he requires a larger-than-average donor heart.

* He has type O negative blood, meaning he can only receive a heart from an O negative donor — significantly narrowing the pool.

* His LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) is currently functioning well and keeping him stable. While this is a blessing, it also means patients in more critical condition are prioritized ahead of him.

In short, Shawn is in the difficult space of being sick enough to need a transplant, but stable enough that he must continue waiting.

Behind the medical terms and transplant criteria is a husband, a father, a son, and a friend who wants nothing more than the chance to live fully again. The extended wait brings ongoing medical expenses, travel between transplant centers, medications, monitoring, and the financial strain of long-term advanced heart failure care.

Your support helps relieve the weight of those burdens so Shawn and his family can focus on what matters most — staying strong, staying hopeful, and being ready when the call finally comes.

Every prayer, every share, and every gift makes a meaningful difference in this journey. Thank you for standing with Shawn as he waits for his miracle.

After surgery, they will have to rent and live in close proximaty to the hosipital for up to 3 months. They do have insurance to cover some of the costs associated with the surgery. The estimated costs associated with the heart surgery alone is approximately $260,000! In addition, most specialist visits, lodging, travel expenses and more are not covered by insurance. Shawn and Krista have received and greatly appreciate an outpouring of support from all over the world.  They acknowledge and give praise to God. As Krista stated, 'He (God) really got us through the 2 months we spent in the hospital'. We believe in the power of prayer and ask that you keep Shawn, Krista, and Holden in your prayers. Pray for a heart to become available soon for Shawn; strength for Krista to continue to run and manage her school while caring for Shawn, and that little Holden will one day be able to actively play with his father. God Bless you all.