Page 27 - Inspire Health January/February 2015
P. 27
breaks across the finish super food FEATURE •
line with a gigantic smile and
only slightly out of breath.At Jamie throwing during the shot-put competition
39, Jamie Napolitano is achieving the
Devastated, but compliant and aware
dream of a 10-year-old. She is a gold the path ahead would be challenging, she
followed medical recommendations and
medalist, a champion for her family, enjoyed her life.
her Louisiana team, for thousands of It was on a return trip from a friends’
getaway Las Vegas vacation that she met
organ transplant recipients and, most her husband Gary, who sat next to her
on the return flight. Although that is a
notably, for Cameron. She is running story in itself, she married, ended up in
New Orleans and found a Certified Child
with his heart. ❛❛ Jamie and Royal, her donor’s father Life Specialist position at internationally
Napolitano is one of thousands of recognized Ochsner Medical Center.
Checking in with a cardiologist, who
athletes who participated in the 2014 I had a great life before, reviewed her history and ordered new
Transplant Games of America, a multisport tests, she received the news that she
should be transferred to the heart
event for living donors, organ transplant but I had no idea how sick transplant/heart failure team. “Of course,
recipients and bone marrow recipients. he could not have been right.That was the
first time I had heard the word ‘transplant’
In addition to competition, the Games I was until I had a heart ❛❛ in 10 years,” she said.
highlight the importance of organ, eye and that was working
tissue donation, while celebrating the lives Recognizing that she did have heart
problems, but refusing to let that interfere
of organ donors and recipients. with life, Napolitano and her husband
thought about starting a family.“I think
Slim and trim, with the cover-girl I went to every provider at Ochsner
hoping to find someone who would
looks of a young woman in excellent devastated; it was so important to me to tell me it wouldn’t be fatal to try and
become pregnant with a weak heart,” she
shape and good health, Napolitano be on the team,” Napolitano recalled.“That emphasized. Not getting the answer they
wanted, the Napolitanos were blessed with
entered the national competition for was the beginning of my journey in thinking the gift of surrogacy from her sister and
doubly blessed with twins, Reese and Brady.
several reasons — to promote the that every single doctor I encountered was
— continued on page 28 —
organ-donation cause, to demonstrate crazy. Surely, I was not sick; they had no
the power of a second chance, to fulfill idea what they were talking about.”
a childhood aspiration and to thank Fast forward to her sophomore year
Cameron’s parents for their gift to her. at Texas Tech University.“I was really, really
Napolitano’s transplant journey is enjoying college, but my heart was not,”
a long one, with many blessings and she reflected.“I had a heart attack on
roadblocks along the way.Thanks to the campus.That was quite a wake up-call
observant eyes of her grandparents, a for me as I realized that well, maybe I am
physician and a nurse, her heart disease a little bit sick. During recovery in the
was first detected and confirmed when hospital, one of the interns asked,‘When’s
she was three months old. the transplant?’ during medical rounds. I
“When I was diagnosed, my prognosis had never heard anything about transplant
was not good at all, but I was very before.‘Who was this guy?’ I thought. He
fortunate to have great medical care, must be crazy; they shouldn’t let him talk
amazing parents and, to be honest, I didn’t during rounds. So, I decided to make sure
really know that I had heart disease,” said to take my medicine, go to my doctor’s
the West Texas native.“I didn’t feel different appointments and I would be fine.”
from other kids and I lived a pretty normal Heading on to Dallas for graduate
life. By the time I got to the age of 10 I school and a Child Life internship at
really, really wanted to be on a junior track Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children,
team. I thought I was fast and all my school Napolitano began noticing irregular and
friends were joining the team.” racing heart rhythms even while sitting
Her supportive and encouraging, down at rest. Several doctor appointments
but cautious, parents said,“Yes, but let’s and tests later, she woke up with a
see what the pediatric cardiologist says.” defibrillator and the diagnosis that she
Looking forward to good news, the report was sicker than she thought.“Once again,
came back detailing a heart that had I was sure that the doctors and everyone
deteriorated a little bit more and strenuous around me had it wrong; they were a little
physical activity was not a good idea. “I was bit cuckoo,” she said.
January § February 2015 INSPIRE HEALTH 27
line with a gigantic smile and
only slightly out of breath.At Jamie throwing during the shot-put competition
39, Jamie Napolitano is achieving the
Devastated, but compliant and aware
dream of a 10-year-old. She is a gold the path ahead would be challenging, she
followed medical recommendations and
medalist, a champion for her family, enjoyed her life.
her Louisiana team, for thousands of It was on a return trip from a friends’
getaway Las Vegas vacation that she met
organ transplant recipients and, most her husband Gary, who sat next to her
on the return flight. Although that is a
notably, for Cameron. She is running story in itself, she married, ended up in
New Orleans and found a Certified Child
with his heart. ❛❛ Jamie and Royal, her donor’s father Life Specialist position at internationally
Napolitano is one of thousands of recognized Ochsner Medical Center.
Checking in with a cardiologist, who
athletes who participated in the 2014 I had a great life before, reviewed her history and ordered new
Transplant Games of America, a multisport tests, she received the news that she
should be transferred to the heart
event for living donors, organ transplant but I had no idea how sick transplant/heart failure team. “Of course,
recipients and bone marrow recipients. he could not have been right.That was the
first time I had heard the word ‘transplant’
In addition to competition, the Games I was until I had a heart ❛❛ in 10 years,” she said.
highlight the importance of organ, eye and that was working
tissue donation, while celebrating the lives Recognizing that she did have heart
problems, but refusing to let that interfere
of organ donors and recipients. with life, Napolitano and her husband
thought about starting a family.“I think
Slim and trim, with the cover-girl I went to every provider at Ochsner
hoping to find someone who would
looks of a young woman in excellent devastated; it was so important to me to tell me it wouldn’t be fatal to try and
become pregnant with a weak heart,” she
shape and good health, Napolitano be on the team,” Napolitano recalled.“That emphasized. Not getting the answer they
wanted, the Napolitanos were blessed with
entered the national competition for was the beginning of my journey in thinking the gift of surrogacy from her sister and
doubly blessed with twins, Reese and Brady.
several reasons — to promote the that every single doctor I encountered was
— continued on page 28 —
organ-donation cause, to demonstrate crazy. Surely, I was not sick; they had no
the power of a second chance, to fulfill idea what they were talking about.”
a childhood aspiration and to thank Fast forward to her sophomore year
Cameron’s parents for their gift to her. at Texas Tech University.“I was really, really
Napolitano’s transplant journey is enjoying college, but my heart was not,”
a long one, with many blessings and she reflected.“I had a heart attack on
roadblocks along the way.Thanks to the campus.That was quite a wake up-call
observant eyes of her grandparents, a for me as I realized that well, maybe I am
physician and a nurse, her heart disease a little bit sick. During recovery in the
was first detected and confirmed when hospital, one of the interns asked,‘When’s
she was three months old. the transplant?’ during medical rounds. I
“When I was diagnosed, my prognosis had never heard anything about transplant
was not good at all, but I was very before.‘Who was this guy?’ I thought. He
fortunate to have great medical care, must be crazy; they shouldn’t let him talk
amazing parents and, to be honest, I didn’t during rounds. So, I decided to make sure
really know that I had heart disease,” said to take my medicine, go to my doctor’s
the West Texas native.“I didn’t feel different appointments and I would be fine.”
from other kids and I lived a pretty normal Heading on to Dallas for graduate
life. By the time I got to the age of 10 I school and a Child Life internship at
really, really wanted to be on a junior track Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children,
team. I thought I was fast and all my school Napolitano began noticing irregular and
friends were joining the team.” racing heart rhythms even while sitting
Her supportive and encouraging, down at rest. Several doctor appointments
but cautious, parents said,“Yes, but let’s and tests later, she woke up with a
see what the pediatric cardiologist says.” defibrillator and the diagnosis that she
Looking forward to good news, the report was sicker than she thought.“Once again,
came back detailing a heart that had I was sure that the doctors and everyone
deteriorated a little bit more and strenuous around me had it wrong; they were a little
physical activity was not a good idea. “I was bit cuckoo,” she said.
January § February 2015 INSPIRE HEALTH 27
