The Heartbeat of Hope: Southwest Transplant Alliance Honors National Heart Month

Each February brings storefronts lined with vibrant pink decorations and grocery aisles stacked with Valentine’s Day candy — reminders of love in every direction. But beyond the annual flowers and chocolates, February also marks National Heart Month. It’s a time to celebrate heart health while recognizing the lifesaving impact of organ donation, where every heartbeat carries a story of hope, generosity, and second chances.

Throughout the month, Southwest Transplant Alliance has engaged students, honored donor heroes, and celebrated the lives saved through heart transplantation. For the 433 Texans currently waiting for a heart transplant (Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data through January 22, 2026), this work is more than awareness — it is lifesaving.

National Donor Day: Honoring Jack Swank

February 14 marks both Valentine’s Day and National Donor Day, a time to honor those whose legacies live on through donation. For the Swank family, the day carries deep meaning as they remember their loved one, Jack Swank, whose generosity saved lives through the gift of five organs.

Jack, an avid Lego set collector and 1970s music enthusiast, was known for his strong work ethic and his constant efforts to make those around him smile. At just 24 years old, he understood the meaning of compassion – a belief that ultimately led him to register his decision to be an organ donor.

After Jack gave the gift of life, the Swank family met Todd Willeford, the man who received Jack’s heart and liver. In a moment filled with gratitude and emotion, both families listened as Jack’s heart beat again inside Todd’s chest. Reflecting on the meeting, Jack’s mother Kelli Swank shared, “Todd’s mom said to me ‘Your baby saved my baby,’ and that’s something that meant so much to me.”

Empowering the Next Generation

At a recent Student Organ Donation Advocates (SODA) social, high school students gathered for a “Heart 2 Heart” conversation focused on how organ donation impacts lives in the Lone Star State and throughout the country.

The discussion centered on advocacy and the role young leaders can play in normalizing conversations about donation in their schools and communities. Students learned that STA leads the nation in hearts recovered for transplantation (OPTN data for Donor: Organs Transplanted by Donation Service Area of Recovery through January 22, 2026), underscoring the strength of our commitment to saving lives.

By fostering open dialogue and encouraging informed decisions, these SODA members are helping build a future where more families say “yes” to donation — proving meaningful conversations can happen alongside themed heart-shaped pizzas and plenty of laughter.

A Second Chance at Life: Ed Sterling’s Story

For Ed Sterling, National Heart Month serves as a reminder of the second chance he received through a lifesaving heart and kidney transplant.

After experiencing two cases of atrial fibrillation, doctors discovered Ed’s heart was failing. Hospital visits became more frequent, and the outlook grew increasingly uncertain. Then came the news that changed everything: He was eligible for transplant. Complications from prolonged medication use had simultaneously damaged his kidneys, meaning he would ultimately need both a heart and kidney transplant. Together, those gifts would reshape the course of his life.

“I wasn’t really living before my transplant,” Ed said. “When something tragic like that happens, it forces you to open your eyes to life — especially to how kind people can be.”

Today, Ed speaks with deep gratitude about his “angel family,” whose loved one’s decision to register as a donor gave him more time with his wife, grandchildren, family, and friends. He describes organ donation as the greatest gift he’s ever received, a selfless act that not only extended his life but also transformed how he lives it. Now, he approaches each day with renewed purpose, believing he is living for more than just himself.

As National Heart Month comes to a close, it underscores a simple truth: heart health and organ donation are connected. Behind every statistic is a person. Behind every transplant is a family given a second chance. And behind every life saved is a donor hero whose generosity creates a ripple effect – a decision that keeps hearts beating across Texas and beyond.