Gift of Life: Needing a New Heart
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Updated: 6:37 PM Nov 24, 2009
Gift of Life: Needing a New Heart
Maybe you've heard about people who've had near-death experiences, moving out of their body, and into a white light. But what happens afterward? Liz Hayes continues her series, "Gift of Life," with the story of a woman who has all the heart in the world, even though the one in her body isn't working.
Posted: 5:54 PM Nov 24, 2009
Reporter: Liz Hayes
Email Address: lhayes@wsaw.com
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Maybe you've heard about people who've had near-death experiences, moving out of their body, and into a white light.

But what happens afterward?

Liz Hayes continues her series, "Gift of Life," with the story of a woman who has all the heart in the world, even though the one in her body isn't working.

Lucy Cuellar, 53, needs a new heart.

The hairdresser had a dissection of her arterial wall five years ago.

"Most people who have what I had, the dissection, die when they have the dissection. How I ever survived that they don't know," says Lucy.

What came next was a massive heart attack, that brought her to her knees.

"I died. I was gone for several minutes that I was dead and during that death process I remember leaving my body and the first thing I remember thinking was this is so cool. All that stuff we're taught as a kid about life after death is true."

She heard the doctor say, "we lost her." But she says she was already in heaven.

"Heaven was that picture on that wall, it was just that close to me and I stepped into it and there were all these hands coming towards me and I felt loved and forgiven, I felt that immediately," she said.

But she came back down to earth, where her husband and young son were waiting.

There was something she was called to do...

"That was to talk to women who lose their children that I can help them understand when you die it's only your body that dies, the rest of you, your spirit moves on."

Lucy is high on the heart transplant waiting list because of all the support she needs to keep her alive.

The battery-operated Heartmate pumps blood through her body, and it can't leave her side.

"Sometimes I get really sad about this heart thing and I try never to think 'woe is me' because I think a bad attitude is never gonna get me anywhere," she said.

Now Lucy spends her time playing her guitar and singing to those who are near the end.

She uses her near-death experience as a testament to what she believes happens in the after-life.

Lucy says, "I thank God every day for my parents who instilled the type of faith that they instilled in me because I know it's my faith that gets me through."

As Lucy awaits a new heart, she hopes families will talk about organ donation and consider the gift of life when the time comes.

"It's important to honor your loved ones if they have that sticker on their drivers' license. Do this for them, it's the last thing you can do for them is to honor them," she said.

To find out how you can become a donor, visit the link attached.


Latest Comments

Posted by: melanie on Jan 7, 2010 at 12:43 PM

I hope your dreams come true. We recently lost our grandson, age 5. His parents did donate his organs shortly before the holidays. They are torn, and miss their child deeply. They are thankful for the joy they have given others, but are confused as to why they were not deserving enough to have the lord let them keep their child. It is a horrific time, with so many questions unanswered. Do you feel it benefits the donor family to meet the recipients, or does this start the process over again. thank you
Posted by: Vicky Location: Antigo on Nov 28, 2009 at 02:57 PM

What a well done and presented story. Respecting the wishes of someone who's died and wanted their organs donated to help others. An incredible message and an incredible story. We pray you will get a new heart Lucy.
Posted by: David J Undis Location: Nashville TN on Nov 26, 2009 at 11:44 AM

Your story about Lucy Cuellar highlighted the tragic shortage of human organs for transplant operations. Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren't willing to share the gift of life should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs. Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition. LifeSharers has over 13,000 members at this writing, including 216 members in Wisconsin.
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