Scot Pollard shares heart transplant recovery journey, hopes to one day meet heart donor’s family

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — It’s a second chance at life for University of Kansas basketball icon Scot Pollard. He’s recovering from heart transplant surgery. Pollard said he is treating the recovery process like the athlete he’s always been, always wanting to exceed expectations. Doctors tell him, he is doing just that, impressing them on his progress.

He said doctors told him he was lucky. A large heart became available just eight days after Pollard entered the emergency room in Nashville.

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“I was way closer to death than anybody thought,” said Pollard.

He said that his surgeons examined his old heart and told him the situation was more dire than they expected.

“You would not have lasted two months in the hospital, and that’s pretty scary to hear,” said Pollard.

He said there were nerves in the room. As his wife shaved off his beard, he swore he would not shave until a new heart became available. He added they knew someone else was grieving at the same time.

“Tears, both of joy that I’m getting another chance at life, but also sadness for the donor family,” said Pollard.

Just 24 hours after receiving a new heart, Pollard was able to stand up and even walk down the hall. He has undergone minor procedures following the surgery to install a pacemaker, a way to help his new heart wake up.

“In order for me to get out quicker, it’s a pretty easy decision to just put in a permanent pacemaker, and we’re talking about getting released this coming week,” said Pollard.

Pollard said he would one day like to meet the family of his donor, someone he calls a hero. But he adds that he must wait a year and write a letter to the family through the hospital to get the chance. He’s being told that most don’t respond because they don’t want to relive their loss.

“That they’re receptive because I would love to show them because I am taking care of their loved one’s heart because that’s just what you do, and I just want them to know that I’m treating their gift with the utmost respect,” said Pollard.

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Pollard will be required to do at least a year of follow-ups with the hospital, including three to four weekly appointments over the next month, requiring him to stay in the Nashville area for the time being.

He said he is already talking with a few programs in hopes of becoming a lifelong advocate of organ donation.

“That’s definitely going to be a message for the rest of my life; being a donor, you’re not saving one life; you can save double digits,” said Pollard.

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