Los Angeles, California, July 13, 2024, 8:00 a.m. (CNA).
Kathleen Anderson had been born with a congenital heart condition that had left her in poor health for 70 years and forced her to pray on her knees.
Finally ready to undergo her heart transplant, she took a moment to pray, hoping for healing and rest when she returned from the procedure.
She woke up with a healthy new heart in her chest, but the ordeal sparked a months-long spiritual battle that led her to cry out to God.
Now, Anderson says God has healed her both physically and spiritually, and that her Catholic faith, dedication to prayer and support from others have helped her persevere.
“My advice to anyone who is suffering is to never give up hope and turn to Jesus, because He will give you the peace you need,” said Anderson, a longtime parishioner of St. Cornelius Church in Long Beach, California.
Anderson grew up in a devout Catholic family and said the rosary every night with her parents, asking God to heal her heart. She married and had three children, despite an illness that left doctors unsure whether she would be able to give birth.
Over time, Anderson’s condition worsened. She underwent her first heart surgery at age 52, followed by additional surgeries over the next few years.
Doctors eventually put her on the heart transplant list at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, but warned that it could be years before she got a new heart. Despite their widespread popularity, heart transplants are still fairly rare, with only 4,545 occurring in the U.S. in 2023, according to tracking data.
“I had faith,” she said. “I prayed. I prayed, ‘Your will be done.’
But that faith was tested by a series of disappointments: Anderson was twice asked to be admitted to hospital for a heart transplant, only to be denied at the last moment.
Then, as the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread, he was told he would be taken off the transplant list, not knowing when or if he would be put back on the list, but he again turned to prayer and tried to accept God’s will.
In November 2020, she was ordered to undergo a third heart transplant, but she never thought the transplant would actually take place.
“I was rushed into the operating room, but this time the doctor was in his surgical attire,” she said. “He looked at me and said, ‘Are you ready for battle?’ And I knew it was time.”
When Anderson woke up from surgery, she quickly realized her battle would be more mental than physical, which is something she didn’t expect.
She said her new heart felt “different,” she feared her body would reject it, and she didn’t feel the “euphoria” she was supposed to feel.
“I knew everyone was so happy for me and I wanted to feel that happiness,” she said, “but I felt scared and confused. I didn’t know how to feel. I felt almost blank.”
Anderson returned home to a strong support system and a supportive church community, but she still couldn’t shake the emotions.
It took her several months to recover, but she continued to pray and look to the lives of the saints for inspiration and guidance.
“Little by little, I felt Jesus and I felt God helping me through prayer and through support,” she said, “and I started to feel that elation. And I started to feel joy.”
As she approached the one-year anniversary of her heart transplant, she felt energized and grateful.
She planned a big party at a park near her home to thank her supporters for their support, love and prayers — now that COVID-19 restrictions are starting to ease, she wanted to meet them in person.
“I didn’t just want to send them a note,” she said. “I wanted to feel them, I wanted to touch them. I really wanted them to know that I was here.”
Anderson is now 74, has been married for 48 years, is the grandmother of seven and has been active in the parish for more than 20 years.
She also grew close with her heart donor husband and his two daughters. A few years ago, she visited them in San Diego, where they spoke for hours about their beloved wife and mother and shared family photo albums.
“It was a good meeting,” she said. “We still keep in touch.”
These days, Anderson has focused on teaching her grandchildren how to rely on God in good times and bad.
She is also passionate about sharing her experience with others as a way to spread hope and healing.
“My purpose is to reach out to people and let them know what God has done for me, what Jesus has done for me, what people have done for me,” she said.
Those who know Anderson say she is content with life and does all she can to lead others to Christ.
“It was a very bittersweet moment,” said Anderson’s daughter, Jacqueline Padgett, who also attends St. Cornelius. “Someone lost their life to give life, and that’s something she holds dear to her heart.”
“She’s just amazed and thrilled by this gift. I think she feels it’s truly a gift to be able to continue to live and continue to serve.”
Father Jarrus Cunane, pastor of St. Cornelius Church and known as “Father Jay,” describes Anderson as a dedicated parishioner who participated in various groups and often spoke about his transplant and faith journey at parish retreats.
“I think her testimony will always be so impactful because of the depth of her sharing and the depth of her faith,” he said.
Looking ahead to the future, Anderson said she tries to live in the present and not worry about what tomorrow will bring.
As always, she remains consistent in her willingness to follow God’s plan.
“I have two hearts now,” she said, “one physical heart and one spiritual heart that shares the wonders of God’s glorious works, and I thank Him every day.”
This story is Originally published in Angelus News Adapted and reprinted with permission by CNA on July 8, 2024.
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