Thirty-two years after a revolutionary heart transplant, Simon Keith is back on the organ transplant wait list.
This time the 54-year-old from Victoria needs another heart to replace the one he received in 1986, and a new kidney. The retired soccer player made history as the first to play professionally with a heart received through a transplant.
KeithB次元官网网址檚 been battling and deteriorating for a while, but the news only just got out, said lifelong friend Ian Klitsie, who runs the foundation with Keith. Klitsie stayed here in Victoria but talks to Keith almost everyday.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 been in the San Diego hospital on and off, but was able to escape to attend foundation events,B次元官网网址� Klitsie said. B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 want to upset anyone at that point in time as this is something difficult to face again, he has to go through it all again.B次元官网网址�
But now, Simon wonB次元官网网址檛 be leaving the hospital until he gets a heart and kidney, Klitsie said.
Klitsie has known Keith since the pair were four years old and playing soccer together, often coached by KeithB次元官网网址檚 dad as the two climbed up through the ranks. Both attended Central junior high (now a middle school) before Simon and his older brother Adam moved and transferred from Vic High to Mount Douglas.
B次元官网网址淚 talk to him everyday, more often now that this story is out and both our phones are off the hook,B次元官网网址� Klitsie said. B次元官网网址淚 told him, B次元官网网址榶ou have control of your phone, you donB次元官网网址檛 need to answer it.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
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Keith has spent his retirement driving the Simon Keith Foundation to create awareness in the U.S. and Canada of the need for organ donors and to support youth who undergo an organ transplant.
He now lives in southern California where he played pro soccer after a stint at the UNLV in Las Vegas where he established himself as an all-star. He then played for the Cleveland Crunch of the Major Indoor Soccer League, the short-lived Victoria Vistas (1989-90) and also the Winnipeg Fury and Montreal Supra in the Canadian Soccer League.
The silver lining for Keith B次元官网网址� who is among the longest living heart transplant recipients B次元官网网址� is that California is well populated as transplant wait lists are regional.
B次元官网网址淪imon matter-of-factly said just yesterday, B次元官网网址業t is what it is, IB次元官网网址檓 now one of the 115,000 waiting for a transplant (in the U.S.A.),B次元官网网址� Klitsie said.
Among the events Keith is involved in is the foundationB次元官网网址檚 annual October golf tournament in Las Vegas. Over the last five years the tourney has pulled in $1 million. This yearB次元官网网址檚 drew about 100 people from Victoria.
But everything is on hold for now.
B次元官网网址淸Keith] plans to be better and back at it in October, if not sooner,B次元官网网址� Klitsie said.
B次元官网网址淪urgery is a far cry from what it was 32 years ago,B次元官网网址� Klitsie said. B次元官网网址淜ids are released 10 days after their transplant now, sent out to live their life. Sure, itB次元官网网址檚 life saving, but at the end of the day you have to get back on with the life.B次元官网网址�
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