“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.
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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.
