Adam Burkhart Celebrates 15 Years

Today marks the 15th anniversary of local man Adam Burkhart’s successful heart transplant.

We spoke with Burkhart about his journey that started when he was just 17 years old.

“I was 17 playing in an indoor soccer game at the Field House in January and just couldn’t run,” said Burkhart. “[I was] just absolutely out of breath.”

Burkhart’s mother knew he was suffering from the same genetic disease that she lost her aunt to in 1968, ‘Familial Cardiomyopathy’. Burkhart had been tested for the gene, but the doctors estimated he would be in his 30’s before he suffered from complications.

After being in and out of Children’s Hospital and a 7-month stay at the then Ohio State Medical Center, he received a heart transplant.

“[My Parents] signed all the papers and prepped me for surgery and had the surgery,” said Burkhart. “Obviously it was successful very few complications. ”

Now 15 years later, Burkhart is married to Kali and has two daughters; Quinn and Madden. They’ve moved into their new home, and he plans to spend the day enjoying some seafood and settling into the house with his girls. and he said it wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of his donor family.

“They wouldn’t be here without my donor family,” said Burkhart. “It’s the first thing I think about and the last thing I think about when I go to bed.”

To learn more about organ donation, you can visit Lifelineofohio.org.