Mackenzie's New Heart

Love can conquer a lot of things … and in the case of Mackenzie Tannhauser and Eric Pfaff love could not be stopped by some major health concerns.

Mackenzie and Eric had plans for a big wedding at the end of April, but early last month Mackenzie suffered a double silent heart attack AND a spinal stroke. The couple decided that simply being married was more important than the wedding they’d planned.

Eric joined Mackenzie in her hospital room on March 13. He wore a blue suit with a white flower boutonnière and she wore a white lace dress, holding flowers to match his boutonnière – even though she was flat on her back in a hospital bed.

Eric described the day beautifully, “Instead of walking down the aisle, we found ourselves in a hospital room, holding hands and pledging our love to each other in a profound and beautiful ceremony, surrounded by hope and the support of those closest to us, we promised to face every challenge together."

Mackenzie has actually faced a lifetime of heart trouble, beginning when she was just 8 years old. She’s had over a dozen surgeries and she received her first heart transplant 15 years ago, when she was only 17. And yes, I said her FIRST heart transplant.

Unfortunately, the spinal stroke that she had last month left Mackenzie paralyzed from the waist down and complications with her heart put her back on the transplant list.

Then on Friday, just weeks after their impromptu hospital wedding, Eric and Mackenzie got the news that she was getting her new heart – with surgery scheduled for that very night.

The transplant was a success and Mackenzie is healing well, although she still has a long road ahead of her.

The couple is grateful for this second chance … well, really third chance … for Mackenzie to lead a full life because of someone’s selfless choice to become an organ donor. Eric’s hope is that his wife’s story will encourage each of us to register as donors.

Please pray for Mackenzie and Eric while they navigate this new normal and figure out what life will look like with her current health challenges.