Former NBA player and Survived contestant Scot Pollard is recovering after undergoing a heart transplant on Friday.
His wife, Dawn Pollard, shared a series of post-procedure updates in messages posted on x (formerly Twitter). “The Scot has a new heart! The operation went well and I was told that the heart was big, strong and a perfect fit!” Dawn wrote in a post on Friday.
“Now to the crucial part of recovery,” she added. “Thank you all for your continued prayers and support, but most of all, the deepest thanks to the donor, our hero.”
The retired athlete turned 49 this month during his stay in the hospital.
He was admitted to the intensive care unit of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on February 7 before he February 12 birthday and Valentine’s Day, both his wife helped him celebrate while in the ICU.
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Scot needed the transplant, according to the Associated Press, due to a genetic condition likely triggered by a virus he contracted in 2021. It reportedly caused his heart to beat an extra 10,000 times a day.
His father died of the disease at the age of 54 when Scot was 16, and half of his siblings also have the genetic disease, the paper noted.
The former basketball star, who played 11 NBA seasons and won a championship ring in his final season with the Boston Celtics, was the center. His 6-foot-11 frame was a factor in finding a heart “with a pump big and powerful enough to supply blood to his extremely large body,” the AP said.
On Saturday, Dawn shared a photo of the Scot recovering in a hospital bed.
“Look who’s awake and feeling great!” she wrote alongside the picture. “The breathing tube came out early this morning and he started cracking jokes and singing ‘I left my heart in San Fran-Nashville.’ 🤣 We are all amazed by the Scot’s recovery so far! ❤️🩹🙏🏼.”
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In a video post, Dawn admired her husband’s strength after he stood up with his new heart just hours after the operation.
“Not even 12 hours after the heart transplant, and he’s standing! We are all amazed at his progress! Keep it up! ❤️🩹🙏🏼💪🏼.”
Before transplantation, Dawn documented herself trimming her Scotch beard and hair before the operation, and thanked the heart donor.
“Scot wanted me to let everyone know that the pre-heart transplant hair is gone, it’s time to go!” she wrote. “Please continue to pray for Scot, the surgeons, the donor and his family who have lost a loved one. This donor gave the most amazing gift of life and we are forever grateful❤️🩹.”
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Source: HIS Education