The wedding march begins. The crowd stands and turns, waiting for the doors of the church to part, revealing a father and daughter prepared to make the iconic walk down the aisle. It’s a milestone Ted Adderly desperately wanted to share with his daughter, but his rapidly worsening heart condition threatened to steal the moment from him.
“All I can say is that I had a premonition, even though I wasn’t feeling poorly. I went in for a physical and that’s when my doctor told me to cancel whatever plans I had that day because I needed to be admitted to the hospital immediately,” Adderly remembers.
In June 2017, Adderly went to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center where tests confirmed the diagnosis – a case of heart failure. He spent two months in the hospital, with machines helping pump life-sustaining blood through his body. Then one morning in August, things took a turn, quickly.
“The doctor came in to check my vitals, do the normal daily evaluation, that sort of thing, and then my heart rate started dropping rapidly. I asked him how bad it was, and he told me I would need a transplant, quick, or I wouldn’t see the next day, much less my daughter’s wedding in six months,” Adderly said.
The transplant team was able to miraculously find both a heart and a kidney match for Adderly in a short period of time. Dr. Ismael Salas de Armas, cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon with Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute-Texas Medical Center and McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), performed Adderly’s heart transplant. The next day Dr. David Hall, transplant surgeon with Memorial Hermann-TMC and UTHealth, performed the kidney transplant.
“I remember waking up in my hospital room after the transplant to my laughing children,” Adderly said. “Amazingly enough, I wasn’t in any pain. I was just ready to get home after spending months in the hospital.”
In April 2018, Adderly was overcome with emotion while getting a first look at his daughter on her wedding day. They were able to embrace while tears flowed down both of their faces. It was always a dream of his to be able to give her away on her wedding day.
“Since the surgeries, I’ve had two grandbabies born,” Adderly said. “I am so appreciative to be a part of their lives thanks to the quick work of my doctors.”
For more information on heart conditions, or to schedule an appointment at Memorial Hermann’s Heart & Vascular Institute, click here.
Thank you for posting this. We just celebrated the 2nd anniversary of his transplant on August 1st. It has been an amazing journey, that’s for sure. We couldn’t be more thankful for Memorial Hermmann and all of the staff. And to those that watched our episode of Say Yes to the Dress, thank you to you as well!
Beautiful Story of the Miracle life and given a 2nd chance to live. I saw this story also on television Say Yes to the dress. I am so prod to be a part of the Memorial Hermann system and to be a part of saving lives!
Memorial Hermann Hospital, a source of Caring, Curing, Education and Resources, Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that. Grateful, I am, to be a part of it.
What an AMAZING story! It is a true testament of the work that is done at TMC daily! What a blessing.
Beautiful story. Glad father and daughter could share this moment together.
This brought tears to my eyes. It so touching.
those positive feedbacks from the patients are really amazed me.