Mother Fears Losing Son to Heart Condition as Transplant Wait Begins

The mother of an 18-year-old boy from Christchurch, Australia, is expressing deep concern for her son who is currently waiting for a heart transplant. Shade Beardsell suffers from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a serious condition causing his heart to thicken dangerously, and his mother, Campbell, fears he may succumb to the same fate as her two deceased brothers.

Beardsell’s heart is approximately three centimetres thick, nearly three times its normal size, and continues to grow. “He’ll pass away without a new heart,” Campbell stated. “Sometimes you get that sick and you’re so sick you can’t have one (a transplant).” The family has also dealt with a history of heart issues, including Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which can cause dangerously rapid heartbeats.

To maximize his chances of receiving a transplant, Beardsell has been advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which has proven challenging. “I’m trying to eat healthy at the moment. I’m going to school sometimes,” he explained, noting that his energy levels have significantly decreased. “I can’t do much, eh. Sometimes I just sleep at home.”

Following some recent dental work, Beardsell has been placed on the active waiting list for a heart transplant. The uncertainty of the waiting period adds to the family’s anxiety. “It could be 24 hours, it could be a week, it could be six months. You just don’t know,” Campbell said. The family has set up a Givealittle page to cover travel and accommodation expenses related to the transplant.

The Beardsell family has faced a long history of heart conditions. Campbell learned she had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy while pregnant with her first child. The family’s struggles became tragically apparent in 2010 when her older brother, Josh, was placed in intensive care and subsequently had his life support turned off. Nine years later, her younger brother, Jade, was also hospitalized, but unfortunately, he became too ill to qualify for a heart transplant.

“One morning they went in and said to him that he wasn’t a candidate for a new heart. And he died then and there,” Campbell recalled, highlighting the emotional toll these experiences have taken on her family. “I’m scared, I’m sad,” she admitted. “I’m not sad because of what’s going on, I’m sad because I thought that I would have a bit more time.”

Despite these challenges, Campbell remains resolute. “I have to be strong. I won’t give up. I’ll keep going forward no matter what happens,” she affirmed.

Organ Donation New Zealand plays a critical role in facilitating organ donations across the country, collaborating closely with health providers. According to team lead Sue Garland, the demand for organ transplants far exceeds the number of available donors. “Those people who are waiting on those transplant lists… they will potentially not survive if they don’t get an organ. It’s hugely important,” Garland stated.

There are several misconceptions surrounding organ donation that can hinder potential donors. “People often think they’re too sick or too old to be an organ donor,” Garland explained. She emphasized that individuals with specific health issues can still be viable donors. Additionally, it is a common myth that family members can override a donor’s wishes, a situation that is rarely encountered.

In the past year, 70 individuals donated organs after their passing, which enabled 213 people to receive life-saving transplants. The number of heart transplants has seen a slight increase, with 19 performed in 2024, three more than the previous year. As Shade Beardsell and his family navigate this challenging journey, the broader community’s support and understanding of organ donation could make a significant difference in saving lives.