13 hours Ago By Kevin Wallevand
FARGO — It's an important day for a young Fargo man who recently received "new life" because of an organ donation. A heart and a set of lungs that saved his life. Just months after the transplant at Mayo Clinic, 22-year old Ryder Schmidt is not only back at nursing school, he's working as well — and with a new lease on life.
In the trauma rooms at Sanford's Emergency Department, Schmidt is working a Friday shift, preparing the room for the next urgent case. But the fact he is back at work and in nursing school, is remarkable. "A year ago, today, I was transported to Mayo.
One minute I am fine, the next I was getting an urgent referral to cardiology," Schmidt said of his surprise diagnosis. This after a series of scary, sudden episodes. "I was walking to class one day and I just passed out, and didn't wake up for 3-5 minutes," he said.
His time at Mayo, somewhat of a blur. But it became clear: "That is called chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and I had heart failure with it," Schmidt said. His heart and his lungs were failing, and so last August, a double lung-heart transplant at Mayo.
"It marks the day that my second chance of life started, my donor was just a couple years older than me and so even thinking about what that meant to his family means a lot to me," Schmidt said. Schmidt was an active, healthy student athlete at Davies. His quick decline and ultimate transplant has changed everything.
He's closer with his family, even little brother Noah. "Things were going down and he was bringing everyone up, and I know there is a picture on my social media where he is holding my hand, with his phone and he was reading me the Yankees score because I am a huge Yankees fan," Schmidt said of Noah. During April — Organ Donation Month — doctors and nurses urging families to have the conversation, something Sanford nurse Kacie Dorn, can personally relate.
Dorn has an uncle who recently passed after a surprise medical crisis. "Literally, the night before he passed away very unexpectedly, my mom had this inkling to have the conversation with him because she and I have talked about this so much, because I am a huge advocate for organ donation and that inspired her and we were able to change so many lives because of organ donation," Dorn, who also is a member of the hospital's donor council, said. For Schmidt, there are hopes of one day meeting the donor's family.
Time will tell. In the meantime, he has started a website to help others with heart conditions similar to what he faced. For now, it is work and school and hopes of starting that nursing career, with an empathetic touch already in place.
"I understand where they are coming from, and I think that is going to make me a better nurse," he said. A total of 2,600 people in Minnesota and North and South Dakota are on the transplant waiting list. For more information on organ donation and Schmidt’s foundation, visit schmidthealinghearts.
org and life-source.org ..
