Young Methodist Hospital patient with all odds against him receives heart transplant

Justin Chauret, 36, is a full-time father and proud H-E-B employee. He led a life with a strict fitness regimen and healthy eating habits; he was in the best shape of his life. Though one day Justin faced difficulty recovering from a workout; he believed it to be a side effect after recovering from COVID-19.

Justin remembers having problems breathing and an elevated heart rhythm one afternoon. Though, stubborn to receive care, he presented to a health clinic inside H-E-B where an EKG alarmed the nurse, urging that Justin rush to the hospital.

Justin drove himself to a nearby emergency facility. His echocardiogram showed an ejection fraction (measurement of the percentage of blood leaving your heart each time it squeezes) of 25 percent, suggesting chronic change. He was administered some heart failure medications and was put on IV medication to make his heartbeat stronger. Shortly after, his blood pressure dropped dramatically and he went into rapid response; he was found to be in heart and kidney failure. Despite the measures taken, Justin’s condition was worsening and he was placed on dialysis and transferred to Methodist Hospital. The rest is a blur to him.

Upon arrival to Methodist Hospital, Justin was in cardiogenic shock and immediately taken into surgery for a ventricular heart pump to stabilize his heart. As his oxygen was worsening, he was also placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), an advanced form of prolonged cardiac and pulmonary life support. When Justin was removed from ECMO after a few days, his oxygen levels immediately dropped and was placed back on ECMO the same day.

“Justin’s case was a very complex, clinical dilemma since he suffered from two critical conditions suddenly; he had severe heart failure and a rare and life-threatening respiratory failure,” commented Chandra Kunavarapu, MD, Medical Director of the Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Program. “He was on the most critical mechanical support devices, and we had to pause on listing him for a heart transplant and focused on treating his pulmonary condition separately.”

Justin recalls the moment Dr. Kunavarapu telling him, “Your heart no longer works and we’re going to find a replacement.” He remembers the defeating realization that he may not survive. “I wasn’t going to leave my wife without a husband and my son without a father.”

Several medical exams revealed the source of Justin’s weakened pulmonary function was a rare and fatal condition known as diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, which may have been caused by an infection developed from COVID pneumonia. The severe infection is believed to have caused myocarditis, inflammation and weakening of the heart muscle that reduces the heart's ability to pump and cause rapid or irregular heart rhythms.

Justin was treated with high-dose steroids. Once his kidney failure normalized on ECMO and it was determined that his pulmonary status would allow for a transplant, Justin was placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) cardiac transplant list.

“Justin’s case exemplifies how the multidisciplinary team approach at Methodist can make a huge difference when multiple specialties collaborate to diagnose and treat these difficult, complex, and incredibly sick patients,” commented Michael Kwan, MD, Program Director of the Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Program. “This is a great example of why it’s not only the technology but the expertise and experience that sets Methodist apart.”

“I told my wife, I was never going to quit. If I go, it will be on the operating table when I’m out of control,” Justin said.

He knew his survival was dependent on his motivation and strength. Justin devoted himself to what he knew best — hard work and strength training. Every day he set goals for himself to walk even just a foot further than he had the day prior: 70, 500, 1,000 feet; he gained confidence becoming self-sufficient with simple tasks, such as holding a phone on his own. Justin told himself, “I’m going to do this. I’m going to make it,” every single day. He remembers taking the steps to the nursing station where he saw Dr. Kwan. He said, “Hi sir. Please don’t give up on me.”

Throughout his hospitalization, Justin became incredibly close with his care team. He wanted to be more than another patient to care for and would stand out as the man who would overcome this. He requested his nurse, Able, shave him a mohawk as his facial hair and otherwise crew cut had grown dramatically. Just over a month, Justin had lost 60 pounds, having gone from a bodybuilder physique to one of very little muscle and energy.

Justin found solace in those around him. The community roared with support for him throughout his care. A “Justin Strong” Facebook group was built to share inspiring stories, prayers and words of hope, and his H-E-B family set up community blood drives in his honor.

On March 18, 2021, Justin received a call that changed his life forever; a donor's heart matched and he would be transplanted that day.

It was a surreal moment. He recalls the realization, “that someone else’s family is getting a different call than the call I’m getting.” It was the most humbling moment of his life.

Masahiro Ono, MD, heart transplant surgeon performed Justin’s transplant. He recalls the moment he woke up met with the sight of his wife and nurse, Alexis. “She [Alexis] took her stethoscope and put it to my heart. She let me hear my new heartbeat for the first time,” Justin emotionally remembered.

Justin’s transplant was successful, and he spent a few additional weeks in the hospital recovering. “All I wanted to do was see my son. He was my greatest motivator,” Justin said.

He was released from the hospital on April 1. “When I got home, my son, Bear, ran up and gave me a hug on my leg. That hit me hard…that he still remembered me. He hadn’t seen his dad in over two months,” Justin said.

A few months post-transplant, Justin ran his first mile and was slowly getting back to his active lifestyle. He was released back to work, and H-E-B proudly welcomed their brave employee back.

“Your second life really starts the moment you realize you only have one. I’m extremely thankful to be alive, to appreciate the beauty of life, to listen to the sound of my son's laugh. Everything is amplified.”