WWU employee gets new heart, 'new birthday'

Remigijus “Migo” Biciunas, a technical maintenance supervisor for Western’s Facilities Management for 19 years, had the kind of experience not too long ago that most of us would rather not think about. In May 2008, at age 62, despite still feeling like a kid, Biciunas had a heart attack.

After triple-bypass surgery, he was able to go back to work. But on New Year’s Eve 2008, one of his arteries gave out, and the functionality of his heart went down to 10 percent.

At the beginning of 2009, Biciunas was unable to work and faced with the reality that he may not have much time left. He had never considered a heart transplant, but his doctors decided that Biciunas’ overall health and his pyschological strength made him a good candidate for a donor heart. While he waited for the surgery, Biciunas felt better on medication. But he couldn’t rely on the drug forever; Biciunas recalled his doctor describing it like “a roman candle, intense while it is working but can all of a sudden go out.”

In the midst of all this, there was an unexpected discovery that aided Biciunas’ chances of getting a new heart. To Biciunas’ surprise, his blood type is AB-positive, which made him a “universal recipient” able to receive a heart from any donor regardless of blood type. That meant he was able to move up on the waiting list.

On Sept. 27, 2009, Biciunas received a new heart at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane and, as he put it, he also got “a new birthday.” After the procedure, he had to spend three months in Spokane before he could return home. He recalls fondly the immense support he got from his friends and family back home while he was recovering in Spokane. Today he proudly displays in his office a poster he got in Spokane of a large group of Facilities Management co-workers all giving him a thumbs-up. He says he will never forget the psychological boost he felt because of all the support he got from the people in his life.

Despite being on medication that he will have to take for the rest of his life, Biciunas is thankful for every day that he is alive. He has a newfound appreciation for the importance of organ donation and all the people involved.

“I am eternally grateful to the donor and family for their decision,” he says. “While heart transplants are becoming more common, there is still a great need for donors.”

According to Donate Life America, an organization devoted to educating the public about organ transplants, an average of 18 people die each day while waiting for an organ donor; and every 10 minutes, a new name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list.

Biciunas was able to return to work on Feb. 1, 2010, and now feels 95 to 99 percent of what he was before the heart attack. Before the transplant he had no energy -- he was barely able to walk across a room -- and now he is back at work and able to enjoy life again. Biciunas says he went from being on death’s door to being alive, well and happy.

“I am doing far better than I ought,” he says, “and am grateful for the opportunities that have been given back to me.”