AUSTIN, June 6, 2026 - As Bob DeWitt lay in a hospital bed with 10% heart function, awaiting a rare O-negative donor heart, the former triathlete flashed a defiant 'V' sign to his wife - a promise to keep fighting. That determination, forged across 14 Ironman triathlons, would carry him through a lifesaving transplant at Ascension Seton and into a hard-won recovery.
In recognition of World Transplant Day (June 6), the American Heart Association is sharing powerful stories like DeWitt's - and that of fellow heart transplant recipient Jose Lopez - to spotlight how scientific innovation, clinical excellence and community engagement are giving patients a second chance at life across Central Texas. For DeWitt (66), resilience has always been second nature.
But his most personal challenge began in 2025, when his heart function dropped to a critical level, forcing him to wait in the hospital for a suitable donor. Following a challenging recovery, DeWitt committed to his daily rehabilitation with a new goal: to surf again within the year.
AHA News (American Heart Association) published a clinical update in Cardiology on 05 Jun 2026.
The item focuses on Heart transplant survivors celebrate World Transplant Day in Central Texas.
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