Former Athlete Gets New Heart, New Start

Alexis Lloyd was an active 49-year-old father of four who, as a former athlete, was always at the gym or outside running and exercising.

In July of 2022, he was at the gym on a treadmill for 2 minutes, then became exhausted and couldn’t breathe. His brother told him he needed to go to the ER. At Ascension Seton Hays, Dr. Sachin Mehta told him “the good news is you have pneumonia, but the bad news is you have congenital heart failure and need a new heart really soon.” Alexis was in disbelief and told the doctor, “I run. I’m at the gym all the time. I’m probably in better shape than you are!”

He was then transferred to Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin and was in the ICU from July till Oct. 25 when he had his surgery. “I spent 70+ days in the ICU, waiting for a heart. The time I spent with the wonderful nurses 24/7, it actually wasn’t that bad. They would take me outside to see the sun, taping up hoses, IV poles and putting me in a wheelchair. We would just sit outside the hospital and breathe fresh air,” he said. “Nurses Laura, Chelsea, Paige and others -- they really took great care of me and allowed me to forget I was in the ICU with congenital heart failure. They allowed me to be human.”

After his Oct. 25 surgery, Alexis was up and walking on day two. The surgery went so well that he left the ICU after four days, and left the hospital altogether three days after that, just in time for his 50th birthday.

“Every morning I remember there’s a person that gave me a gift so that I can live, and I think about it every day,” Alexis said. “I wrote a letter to the donor’s family (he was 18-25) and told them he’s my personal hero.”

Alexis had a chance to meet the donor’s family at the ICU and talked to the donor’s mom. Her son was a marine who helped nine people through organ donation. “It’s a tragedy because she lost her son, but to hear from people whose lives he saved, I hope it eased her burden a little.”

After Alexis’ ordeal, he got an epiphany: “I enjoy talking to people about this. I want to tell everyone to be a donor, and give the gift of life.”