A New Heart, a New Beginning for a Burlington Native

A Burlington native is getting a second lease on life after receiving a donor heart at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

David Zagzoug, 42, and a 1989 Burlington High graduate, was in need of a heart transplant after contracting Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus while being treated for an injury.

According to a site put up by his family, In November 2002, David fell from a ladder and suffered a tear to his Achilles tendon which required surgery. David Contracted (MRSA), a staph infection, from non-sterile equipment used at the hospital. David had an AFIB event in 2003, after which he had to have a pacemaker defibrillator installed, and many other heart related surgeries. Since that time he has been unable to work to provide for himself or his four children. This year David developed congestive heart failure, which could lead to the heart failure and other organs shutting down, including his liver which has been damaged as a direct result of his heart issues.

After months of tense waiting, David, a brother, twin and father of four received a heart today on Sept. 24 from an unselfish organ donor. He is now out of the hospital and with family.

According to David's sister, Judy, the donor family wishes to remain anonymous.

"We extend our condolences and want the family to know what a gift our family has been given," she said of the family. "This is a second chance we had only hoped for."

Though David is doing well and is out of the hospital, the Zagzoug family is facing financial hardships from all of the time in the hospital and because the family had to travel to Florida to be with David.

There will be a benefit Motorcycle/Classic Car BBQ and fun run on Oct. 20 at the Tewksbury Elks Club to help support the family. Visit heart4davez.com.