Mother Fears for Son’s Life as He Awaits Heart Transplant

The mother of an 18-year-old from Christchurch is grappling with fear as her son, Shade Beardsell, awaits a critical heart transplant. Shade suffers from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a serious condition that causes the heart muscle to thicken abnormally. Tragically, this condition has already claimed the lives of two of Shade’s uncles.

Shade’s heart currently measures approximately three centimetres thick, nearly three times the normal size, and continues to grow. His mother, Campbell, expressed her deep concern, stating, “He’ll pass away without a new heart. We already all know that.” The urgency of Shade’s situation is amplified by the fact that his health could deteriorate to the point where he may no longer qualify for a transplant.

Complicating matters is a family history of heart issues, including Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which is characterized by an additional electrical pathway that can cause rapid heartbeats. To improve his chances for surgery, Shade must maintain optimal health and weight. “I’m trying to eat healthy at the moment. I’m going to school sometimes,” Shade explained. Despite his efforts, he struggles with fatigue, admitting, “Sometimes I just sleep at home.”

Recently, after undergoing dental work, Shade was placed on the active wait list for a heart transplant. His family has set up a fundraising page on Givealittle to assist with travel and accommodation expenses as they prepare for the uncertain wait. “It could be 24 hours, it could be a week, it could be six months. You just don’t know,” Campbell said, conveying the emotional toll of the waiting game.

The Beardsell family has been dealing with heart-related issues for years. Campbell discovered she had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy during her first pregnancy. In 2010, her older brother Josh was admitted to hospital and later died after life support was turned off. Nine years later, their younger brother Jade faced similar struggles but was deemed too ill for a transplant assessment. “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.

With an overwhelming sense of fear and sadness, Campbell shared, “I’m scared, I’m sad. 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, she remains resolute, stating, “I won’t give up. I’ll keep going forward no matter what happens.”

The situation reflects a broader issue regarding organ donation in New Zealand. According to Organ Donation New Zealand, the organization is responsible for coordinating organ donations across the country, working closely with health providers. The demand for organ transplants continues to outstrip the number of available donors, with wait-lists often numbering in the hundreds.

Sue Garland, the team lead at Organ Donation New Zealand, emphasized the critical nature of the situation. “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.”

Misconceptions about organ donation further complicate the issue. Garland noted that many people believe they are too sick or too old to be donors, despite the fact that individuals can have healthy organs even if they suffer from other health issues. Additionally, the notion that family members can override a donor’s wishes is largely unfounded.

In 2023, 70 individuals donated organs following their deaths, enabling 213 people to receive life-saving transplants. The number of heart transplants performed has seen a modest increase, with 19 transplants completed in 2024, three more than the previous year.

As Shade’s family navigates this uncertain path, the urgency of securing a heart transplant remains paramount. The emotional and financial strains of the situation highlight the critical need for increased awareness and support for organ donation efforts in the community.