A year later, he has a new heart

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Don and Katy Hall.

It’s funny how much can change in a year.

Granville’s Don Hall suffered a heart attack on Nov. 10, 2020, placing him in Boston’s Mass General Hospital for the holiday season after being airlifted from both Glens Falls Hospital and Albany Medical Center Hospital.

A year later, Hall and his wife, Katy, was able to recollect his thoughts from the near-death experience.

“I remember yelling from the bathroom for help. My stepdaughter, Mallory, came in to help me.   I then remember her and my stepson, Mike, assisting me to my recliner. The next memory is of me being put in a helicopter,” Don Hall said.

“I have no memory of the heart attack or the surgery to try to save my heart. I remember waking up and having a tube down my throat and people around me asking me yes-or-no questions and explaining to me where I was and why.”  

“This was the most terrifying time of my life,” Katy Hall said. “Every day was different. I would get good news one day, and the next day it wouldn’t be good. He would go one step forward and two steps back. This went on for what seemed like forever, then Christmas day, Don appeared to snap out of his ‘fog’ and started to remember where he was and why.

“He was able to FaceTime, his speech still wasn’t the best, but he slowly improved each day. We both cried when we were able to FaceTime and see each other for the first time.”

Following his successful heart transplant on Jan. 21, Don Hall has cherished family time and the little things life has to offer.

“The road to recovery was long, scary, and lonely while I was in the hospital, as my wife or other visitors weren’t allowed to come due to the COVID pandemic,” Hall said. “My wife and I stayed in a hotel near the hospital in Boston for three weeks upon my discharge from the hospital due to frequent checkups. While I was there, I was able to FaceTime friends and family.” 

Although doctors are pleased with Hall’s efficient progress and have cleared him to return to work for the Department of Transportation next year after restrictions ease up, Katy Hall said Don’s multiple checkups for a year in Boston will continue for the rest of his life.

“My follow-up appointments are now a natural part of my life,” Don Hall said. “We started out two times a week, then once a week, every other week, then once a month and now every other month. I go for my one-year checkup on Jan. 24.

“I have to take several medications, some of which I will take for the rest of my life. Others have been discontinued. Each visit consists of talking to my doctor as well as a biopsy. Blood work is done to check my medication levels as well as blood levels and cholesterol.

“We both agree that this situation has strengthened our marriage and brought our family closer together. It was so wonderful to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving together and look forward to everyone being together to celebrate Christmas.”

Through 41 donations, the Halls were able to raise $3,034 for Don’s medical expenses via GoFundMe. The couple had some words of encouragement and appreciation after their traumatic experience.

“Our advice to others who may have to go through this is to never lose faith. God is amazing and the power of prayer is real. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Talk to family and friends. Let others help you, don’t try to do everything by yourself,” Katy Hall said.

“Don and I want to thank everyone for their love and support,” she added. “We are blessed to have such wonderful family, friends, supportive community and employers who helped us through this. Don received both a physical heart and a spiritual heart. Also, a special thank you to Don’s donor’s family. We love you all!”