Alaska man receives heart transplant after December ice storm delayed previous operation

SEATTLE — After months of waiting, Patrick Holland has a new heart. Holland was originally scheduled to receive a heart in December of 2022 but the historic ice storm in Seattle caused all of his flights out of his home in Alaska to be canceled.

After that, his family decided it would be best for him to stay in Seattle while he waited for a heart to come available. He was taken in by a couple he had never met before. He says they’ve now become like family to him.

“It just amazes me how many people in Seattle care,” he said. Holland got his new heart March 30 at the University of Washington Medical Center at Montlake.

“I woke up and I’m looking down and it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s there!’” Holland said. “I’m going to affect thousands of people with this heart.”

Holland will remain in Seattle for about three months while he recovers. His loved ones have set up a GoFundMe to help with medical costs and travel. You can donate here.

Holland said he hopes his story will inspire and encourage others to become donors, too.

“A man and his two kids, daughter and son, they were in their early twenties come into our shop and say hey we saw your story and we just went down and became donors. And I thought if in life I sent three other people to become donors and save three other lives then I’ve done good,” he said.

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