Former Minnesota Twin Rod Carew Undergoes Successful Transplant Surgeries
Rod Carew has Successful Heart and Kidney Transplant Surgeries
Former Minnesota Twin, Rod Carew, underwent heart and kidney transplant surgery overnight at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA.
After receiving notice of a match, Carew and his family went to Cedars-Sinai yesterday. The surgery started after midnight and took over 13 hours. Reporters and former teammates tweeted out their support throughout the day.
Finally, news broke from the Minnesota Twins:
Update: Rod Carew undergoes successful heart/kidney transplant. Expected to make full recovery. pic.twitter.com/9n5cwBBBFq
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) December 16, 2016
The first-ballot Hall of Famer, Carew had a heart attack in September of 2015 and had a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) inserted into his heart soon after.
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His wife relayed to reporters that doctors told Rod that the recovery from transplant surgery was actually going to be easier than what Carew had went through after the LVAD procedure.
After his LVAD, the Minnesota Twins announced the creation of the Heart of 29 Campaign, in partnership with Rod and his wife, Rhonda.
The Heart of 29 (Carew’s old uniform number) was to be a year-long fundraiser for the American Heart Association.
It also was to help raise awareness and to educate people on potential warning signs, diet and nutrition, and exercise for all ages and abilities.
The special red home jerseys the Twins debuted on Friday nights carried a special patch, commemorating the Heart of 29 Campaign. The one-year campaign began last January. Hopefully, it will become an enduring Twins charity.
Average survival rate for transplant patients is 12 years, but Rod Carew has never been average. Though he’ll have to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life, Carew joked before going into Cedars-Sinai yesterday that he’ll join the Twins at Spring Training in a couple months.
Cheers to that.
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RUMORS: Dodgers confirm reports they are willing to part with prized pitching prospect Jose De Leon if it means they can secure Minnesota’s second baseman, Brian Dozier. Stay tuned.