By Jeff Kelley 

A new artificial heart pump wasn’t the Christmas gift Brian Campbell was expecting.  

After being rushed to the VCU Medical Center because of severe heart failure, his doctors unwrapped devastating news: Brian needed a heart transplant as soon as possible. The temporary heart pump kept him alive while they waited for an organ donor. 

Brian’s health struggles began more than a decade ago when he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a genetic condition that weakens the heart’s ability to properly pump. His condition eventually required pacemakers and medications,  the side effect of which was declining kidney function. 

By mid-2023, his condition was getting worse – his heart function had dropped to the point where they needed to swap out his regular pacemaker for a defibrillator. Then in October, he passed out at work at his family’s farm, Hanover Peaches, and the implanted device shocked him back to life. 

Despite it all, “I didn’t have the sense of urgency the doctors had, because I didn't feel bad, or like I was going to die,” Brian said. “I was weak, but it was a gradual decline over the years, and you get used to feeling bad. It becomes the new normal.” 

That new normal was going to change very soon for Brian.  

A few weeks after being admitted to the hospital, his name on the waitlist for a heart and kidney came up. He was approved for both procedures since certain heart transplant recipients can develop renal problems related to loss of kidney function, which can jeopardize the success of the transplants if left untreated. 

(Filmed and edited by Joe Kuttenkuler, Taylor MacKillop and Robin McLeod, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Campbell’s heart transplant was performed by Mohammed Quader, M.D., and Amit Sharma, M.D., stepped in to complete his kidney transplant. All transplant patients receive exceptional, comprehensive care, but for those undergoing a dual transplant procedure, additional collaboration and planning across specialized teams ensures a seamless coordination of treatment.

There was no question in Brian’s mind that the people taking care of him from VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center were doing all they could to help him get back to living his best life.

“Anytime I was in the hospital, I never had a doubt that the outcome would be anything other than positive,” Campbell said. “I’ve been given a second chance, and I’m going to make the most of it.”

Bumps in the road don’t slow down transplant recipient’s recovery 

“The first year after transplant is typically the hardest,” said Megan Hooper, a heart transplant coordinator who supports patients at both VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center and VCU Health Pauley Heart Center. 

“Everyone’s trajectory is always different in terms of how they recover from the surgery, but for our dual-organ recipients, it means that they’re going to be getting regular heart catheterizations [to monitor function and detect signs of rejection or complications] and biopsies for the first six months,” she said. “We see them in the clinic every month, and it can be a lot for people.” 

Anytime I was in the hospital, I never had a doubt that the outcome would be anything other than positive. I’ve been given a second chance, and I’m going to make the most of it. 

Brian Campbell, VCU Health patient 

For the 54-year-old, the last year was an adjustment. Brian had to stay in the hospital after a catheterization procedure to check his heart. He did another three nights in the hospital after getting sick with COVID-19, which kept him at home and isolated for a month. 

“That was probably the worst month of my life, being immunocompromised with COVID,” he said. 

Even with all of the ups and downs this year, Hooper says Brian is positive – and the “ideal patient.” He’s proactive in his care, taking medications when he’s supposed to and following all of the recommendations from his care team. Following this post-transplant is crucial to make sure the recipient stays healthy and that the new, donated organs function the way they’re supposed to.  

“Even when it seems like the odds are stacked against [Brian], he just takes it with such joy and stride. And to me, that’s the best way that a patient can honor their donor — by living their best life,” Hooper said. “He’s a special guy.” 

Revved up for life 

Despite a few setbacks, Brian’s one-year checkup showed he was doing great.  

“Everyday living, I feel pretty good. I wouldn’t expect to feel any better,” he said.  

Brian has stepped back from physically working on the family farm in Hanover County, with his son Jack taking over, but remains involved in its operations. Excessive labor or strenuous activity wears him down, including polishing any of his three Corvettes. 

Brian Campbell has a new lease on life after his dual transplants. The license plate for his new Corvette, “NWTIKR” (new ticker), embodies his passion to share his story – even on the road. (Caroline Ward, VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center)

He bought a Corvette just days after being discharged from VCU Medical Center, but he had to wait six weeks to drive it. A 2024 red mist Chevrolet Corvette, he calls “my emotional support vehicle,” was recently added to the collection. Their license plates – “2ORGNS” and “NWTIKR” (New Ticker) – are small signals to others on the road that Brian is fueled up with determination to share his story with others. Recently, he’s been mentoring public school kids and is looking for ways to give back to the transplant community. 

“I feel like I have a responsibility to my donor’s family, to his memory, to be a better person,” Brian said. “To try to help more people. I want to be able to use my story to bring more attention to transplant awareness — it’s the least I can do.” 

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