INDIANAPOLIS — After months of waiting and dozens of hours of rehab, Jeff Taber says he's excited to be returning to the "fun chaos" of home.
Taber, who had a Congenital Heart Defect, spent more than two years on the heart transplant list and has been at Riley Hospital since January. His old heart was enlarged, which affected his ability to breathe and his energy levels.
"With the [previous] heart, I would get fatigued very quickly so that was always the issue- those are the things now that aren't affecting me as much."
He received his donor heart on July 6.
WRTV first introduced you to Taber in February. Before his transplant, Taber said his focus was on maintaining his health so his body would be ready when a heart was available. Now, he can continue looking forward.
"[I've been] doing things that I've been wanting to do and being able to, you know, actually make goals that are progress. Back before [the transplant], it was always maintenance and no real improvement," Taber said. "Now [I] continue to set goals and continue to meet goals."
He says his faith and his family have gotten him through. Taber is a husband and father of eight.
IU Health houses one of the largest Adult Congenital Heart Defect programs in the Midwest. Taber is a part of the program through Riley.
CHD is the most common birth defect in the United States, according to the CDC.
-
IMPD seeks public’s help identifying man after generator theft on west side
IMPD detectives are asking for the community's help identifying a person connected to a generator theft on the city's west side.
Body of 13-year-old boy recovered in Lake Michigan after days-long search
A multi-agency search is underway after a juvenile went missing in Lake Michigan near the Michigan City Lighthouse Pier Monday afternoon.
Stray gunfire strikes Elkhart home, critically injures toddler
A toddler is now in critical condition in the hospital after she was struck by a stray bullet while sleeping in her Elkhart home.
Ballard secures signatures needed for November ballot amid fraud controversy
Independent Secretary of State candidate and former Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard announced his campaign has submitted the petition signatures needed to secure a spot on the November ballot.
