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Today, we have an incredible guest who em embark the spirit of perseverance and the power of the human heart, quite literally the human heart derek Lin, a man who ran a hundred and 14 marathons with his original heart, received a heart transplant in... 23, and now dreams of running another marathon with his new heart. Derek Story is 1 of courage, determination and the miraculous intersection of medical science and the human spirit. Derek, welcome to the show. How are you
doing today? I appreciate it. I feel good. Feel good today. She'll go good, man. That's always here. That's. Beer j. I, personally have not heard your story. So I'm I'm like most of the listeners here. Let's start from the beginning. Can you take us through the moment you first realized something was wrong with your heart despite being such an accomplished athlete. 03/03/2018, finished a 20 mile run and you know, dizzy, slur speech stuff like that, and I brought myself into the, and
That was it. I didn't realize I was already in heart failure. I was still racing and I I did Boss in a couple years earlier and whatnot, and, you know, getting slower, you know, getting so, but I thought with age, Yeah. You know, trade us, you know all them. It was it was heart failure, and I was already at that point. Just say it was heart function about 23 percent. What? I I didn't I didn't notice. I I mean, I guess I... You know in hindsight I did. Yeah. But you didn't realize much...
I didn't know what it was. Yeah. It just test after test just kept showing. You know, In Idiot and, you know, the those first few months were tough, you know? Because I was I was kind of that guy, you know I was coaching a big group and, you know, running and and whatnot, and then all of a sudden, it seemed like my... I lost my identity. You know, I was I was a runner and next, you know, I I wasn't. You know, just as quick as I... You just run 20 miles, and it's a
I it was 21 that morning. Yeah. Probably a mirror call that you survived that run. Well, you know what At, you at end any point I could have died. You know what? A a couple months later, I got a pacemaker def, which... Honestly, in 20 21 and 20 22, went off. I died twice once playing basketball probably probably shouldn't have been doing that. You on and fully can. And then, on the treadmill in 20 22 we're I basically died running and it shouldn't you know, fell off the treadmill
mountain and zap me back to life. So you know, Tough tough deal. That that 20 20... 20 22 fall was a tough 1. You know, the treadmill. So. I've been but I not a hurt too. Yeah Not just like, not nines 9 staples in the back of the head, all white. Yeah. Pretty I don't I don't remember any of that. You know, I just went out on the treadmill and, you know, woke up and a, you know, pool of blood, but... I have pictures if you wanna a stone. I put him in the show. Actually, I do, but I won't share
don't share those pictures. Oh, my. So and this is 1 of things... It's like I I... This is our first time meeting, and, obviously, Have read about your story, and I was say, did he not... I mean, are you 1 of those guys? Who's was, like, man, I'm not going to the doctor. I'm I'm cool. I'm a runner. I'm not cool. Like, the
funds, but cool, like, I'm good. I don't need to go to the doctor because I'm keeping my own health up, or did your physician your, you know, Gp just miss all this and all of a sudden, holy crap. There it is. III bet I went honestly, I I bet I went 25 years without. I I just never had a reason to go. I just see. I'm a runner. I'm healthy. I'm running well. You know, those number of years. Right. I just... Everything's great. Feel great and running well. So And I just I just never went In.
And maybe they would have caught something. Maybe they wouldn't... Know if I would've have probably had have done a a stress test or something for them to. You know, caught something, but you know, I'm, They... You know, it had I not gone in that March of 20 18. You're right. I probably would have... Just chalk up to getting fat out of shape old, you know, whatever it was and something would happened. And... Oh, that derek. He was such a nice boy. You know, kinda thing for me.
You know? So... So what what what do they tell you? They're like, alright. You you got heart failure. You're gonna put in a kinda pacemaker and a def, and and, I would assume at that point. They also told you dude, you... You're gonna have to have a heart transplant. So we're gonna put you on a list and see what happens. I mean, that... That's just really waiting list. Right? It waiting is the operative word. So interesting in that because I was so
fit. I wasn't put on the list. List So the heart to say was at 20 percent or whatever. But my V 2 Max was still in the forties. So there's numbers, you know, they have multi these sets of numbers that have to... You know, be bad. I guess, before he can be on a list, and I wasn't bad enough wasn't sick enough. I was still getting around fine. You know, I still living life, you know the way it wasn't and stuff. And so I wasn't put on the list until, March of 20 23.
Wow. So I lived all those years just watching myself decline, you know, and not running much, you know I try to race every now and then, which... I mean, Had to keep my heart rate under 01:40 or 01:50. So It's was hard to you know, hard to raise, but, you know, it's just hard hard to not to. You know, it did not race. And, you know, and once I was put on the list, last March, I was placed at at a level 6, which is the lowest and by June, I was a 4 and October, they kept me. And at that point,
I had a heart function of 6. Good grief. Yeah. So I don't know how... And and I gotta be honest. I didn't feel bad. I mean, I was still playing basketball. He good. Wow, I was a shit. I run around the treadmill. But I was still. I... I still get on the treadmill and walk, maybe a little jogging and stuff, just watching my heart rate. Yeah. But, yeah. They yeah, they brought me in for just a routine test on
October seventeenth. Last fall, and they just kept me, you know, and they I installed some crazy pump, which kept me in the Icu until I found a heart. So Yeah. Yeah. Just a just a crazy story. It's been a crazy crazy life and of all the things I thought that would happen to me. Would be the last thing. It be the heart because I took such good care. You know, I thought of of my body and stuff, and I just caught a virus at some point could have been 10:15 years ago, who knows? Yeah. I'm just
8 away and so... I'm... I... I've always personally fascinated by transplant stories because the sad thing is, someone has to pass away in order for you to survive. Right? And so... Correct. Like, do you do you have a connection to the the person that donated the heart and have you met the family or there's just no. It was just... That'll be up to them. Yeah. Okay. So it's it's up to the donor family too. And and we're... You know, my wife and our out there on social media. So if...
They can contact us. Anybody can contact us at any point, you know, And we do a lot of talks and stuff like that about the story and whatnot. Sure. I man, and I hope they do. We were at a race. I did A5K. Yeah. Wanted to call it Run. You know Gotta just a kind of a a walk kind of thing a few months. Ago and we were able was to donate life race. Yeah. And there was a woman there with... And we only talked with her She license donate life, license plates on her car to
go whatever. And then these are my parents. She introduced her parents whatever. And these are my my donor parents. So she traveled to races with her parents. And her daughter's parent. Wow. Oh my gosh. That it's like, the. Like, the coolest thing, you know, and just... You know, I think that's just something that you know, everybody, you know, every recipient wishes you know, they'd have. But a, you know, in in reality, I think it's less than 30 percent of
of donors contact, the recipients, you know? So it's not... Yeah. IIIA number that I I thought that number would be. Would be higher. I I would have as well if somebody and said what do you think odds? I would've have said, probably like 70 because it's like, I would wanna see here that, you know, carry on like, I see the good that came from whatever
situation rail. Because I... And I think it was received either you or your wife, mentioned in that article that I read or 1 of them I read that said, it's generally somebody young. Right? That's that's right, donor. And there's Right generally, you know, not a positive story that resulted in this donation, but this is a spin to make it so. And Yeah. I think that's probably incredible for, you know, somebody to be able to close that loop. But now, you... You say you're on...
The other thing that struck me was, and I believe this... You you quote in the in the article said, those first couple of weeks were really ugly. After. You know what This funny. You're you know? So why I had the surgery, it wasn't so bad. I was in Icu just say 6 days or 7 days or whatever they moved me to when And when they move to that, like, I don't know what they call it, like, a step, like, a step down room from ice icu. Step down you unit. I just wanna go home. I just
wanted to... You know? So I pushed hard and I think I was the hospital for... I don't, Let's say 11 days or whatever. Yeah. I should have stay a few more days, because those was first couple weeks at the house for judge. They were all. They were awful. They were just sitting, you know, sleeping in the chair. I couldn't walk up and downstairs, and, you know, they don't they don't sew you anymore. You know, they don't... Whatever. So it's just
glued together. So she had be really careful on how you move and stuff, and it was it was a tough deal. Yeah. You know, on that. But day by day, you know, it's, walking more steps and, you know, next thing you know I'm out there walking 5 miles and biking and stuff. So So, you know, and, you know, now it's at that point where, like, yesterday, I ran walked for, you'll say an hour and a half, and...
I I feel great. You know, and you don't think about the heart transplant until you go home and take that shirt off and you're like, oh my. Scarred in their scars. Everyone not just here, but Here and here and, you know, drainage cars and stuff, so... Oh, man. Wow. So go... Yeah. Go back to. What story. Just go back to when you were waiting. What what was that? Like? What was... Like, did you... Were you in fear? Were you confident? Were you... Like, hey, if this is
it, this is it. You know, like, what what kind of... Everybody handles it differently. I guess, I'm just curious as to how Right. How you dealt with it? You know, I had been told for 6 years, this was the journey. So when it was time, it just, you know, didn't bother me at all. I just I knew this was the end of you know, this journey and the start of another 1. And Even we had 10 days before transfer, we had like a dry run, You know, where that came in.
You're supposed to have a heart that morning, didn't happen, which III could see how some people would be devastated, I don't know. I had been waiting so long. It was just a... There's another day. You know, so just, you know, 6 days later. We got the call again, and, you know, that's the heart that stuck. So Yeah. Yeah. So 6 years of waiting, and this finally happens. And, like you said, this is the start of a new story, and
I... I'm just making the leap, you probably weren't making the speakers round when you were waiting, but right, now that this has happened, and you're on the on the road, literally. Is right to to or to, you know, hopefully, you know, back in the in the marathon scene, and you're you're talking to other people about your story about this process, and I, just gonna make the leap. This is also about training, you know what? Consider, you know, donating, But a hundred percent, you know, it's
I wouldn't be here. And there's so many people we've met at at different races donate life races or, or, you know, Cream City 5 k in Milwaukee is just a wonderful race for for Donate life, and there's hundreds and hundreds of athletes you know, that our transplant recipient understand it wouldn't be possible without, you know, sorry to say that, you know, somebody's loved 1 had Yeah. Had passed, You know, so it's you know, we go, you know, every day, we we think, you know, just be thankful that.
You know. Yeah. My my situation is completely different because I was, I was fit when I went in, you know, when I was Icu for me wasn't bad because I could I could still walk. Had my little pump with me and I'd, you know, walked the hallways and stuff. And, you know, I could work at my little desk where right I could stand up and work. So it wasn't... I for me it wasn't horrible, but, you know, seeing some of those people that's a tough deal, tough deal, you know, and,
you know, you know. So... You know, and, you know, as we talk about, you know, I after transplant you know right? Because I'm a runner here have that mindset of, you know, I'm Derek Lin. You know, I can and that's at Mantra use. You know I'm derek at Lin. I can do anything because I've kinda done a lot. You know, Since you I. Honestly, and I just thought, because I was in good shape going in. You know it was only, you know, 3 months. When and I just thought, I would
come out. I'd recover, and I'd run. And I'd run I'd run fast, and I bought out don't wanna Yeah. No. This there's no nowhere close. What it's been. You know, so I picked up type 2 diabetes, which is, you know, Med related, which has gone now, but neuropathy in the feet, which is super painful when the boy. That's kinda still there. Like, wear boots and stuff for it. But you know, and so the the running piece, I I honestly thought I'd come out and just go and run 10 miles, you know, and just...
But it hasn't been that way, you know, But I still have lofty goals, but we'll see if, you know, also that was a humbling experience. I I will not block against goals. What's that? I'm not gonna bet against you and your goals. I'll I'll love Yeah. I'll bet on you, not against you. Yeah. So, you know, there's... There's certain piece like we're doing a marathon. We're doing a monumental marathon in Indianapolis in November. Yeah. You know,
it's... It'll be slow, but probably can't be as bad as 20 15 New York, so which was pretty painful, But but we'll get that done, And I... There is... And I the nearest we can tell there's been there's been numerous heart transplant recipients who have run Boston. But they've all run on a charity slot. So nobody has qualified Boston you know, being a heart transplant transplant on recipient. I just... There I know. So let me... Let me shorten that up for both of
our list real quick. So on your race calendar for 20 24 is... Yep. Indy? Yep. Marathon. And are you telling me that you're attempting to qualify for Boston? No. No. Not at the end. My. Not in India. But I but I could until September fifteenth of of next year, I... I'd like to qualify for 20 26. Yep to sung somewhere. You know, just it's good. And who knows Explain Who knows? Who knows? I mean, it just nasty. Now You know, what is your what is your
your care team saying about this? And what is your wife saying about this? There's there's 2 different. Oh, yeah. I know. That's why I made make ask question like that. Yeah. You know, care team is fine. I mean, there's I... You know, I'm I'm free reign right now. I can kinda do what whatever I can do, you know, and it's, you know, meds have been you know, continue to drop. I've obviously recover real well. Get when I'm back to doing a lot of the stuff. I mean, I can bite
for hours. I can hike for hours. It's just the running piece, Yeah. You know, with the neuropathy that that gets to me. Sure. You know what, and my wife is real supportive. She's actually doing indy with us. So we have a group, you know, going a 30 or 40 of us going to Indy. That's sure 1 of them. Yeah. So... And then... Where where we decide to run next year? I don't know. We are doing Key west half or the big packer challenge. Yeah. That Key west in January. So yeah. I will
that's that's fantastic. Now who is this team is running with you? Oh, just you know, over the years, I've had, you know, I coached for years. So I've just got a, right, a lot of running friends. Okay. I mean I... Ran a number of a couple of them from Charlotte. That are coming to run, you know, some friends that Have coached out of out of Charlotte stuff. So that should be should be on. That is fantastic. And are you are you are you
working with the coach? Are you are you fun doing your own thing, how are how are you in managing this, getting ready for, for November or October and India is this year. I I do whatever I can every day. So, you know, there's certain days yesterday went out and I could handle 2 miles. That's all I could do. Day before I was out for 2 hours. You know, it's just, you know, probably doing too much there, You know, Take a little rest day yesterday and you, back at it today. So
you it's incredible, man. Absolutely incredible sin. And it's a crazy story. Do you have... Are there any other and and I know everybody's journey is different. Is there anybody else that is, you know, either, you know, ahead of you or behind you or, you know, And shoulder to shoulder peer that you are making this journey with, Are you blazing this trail all by yourself? You know, they're been at in via Facebook, You know, there's groups of you know, cardiac athletes, you know, kind of
thing. And you have met up with a guy, and I might have got his last name wrong Dan, Lei, also heart transplant recipient. Ran his first marathon, you know, 5 years ago, you know, a couple years after after transplant stuff, and, in him and I have these parallels where He's from Ohio and his first marathon was 95 Columbus. That was my first marathon over 3 hours. We ran it the together way we finished within, like, 20... We didn't know each other
for Yeah. You know, 30 years later, whatever put these parallels in his birthday the same day or blah blah blah blah. And he's you know, same disease, what have you. But you know, I'm not sure what he's done beyond Columbus since then. Yeah since it's transplant, but, yeah, Just, So other people have done it. Okay. I... I'm not sure running fast. And and maybe that's not... Maybe that's nothing I can do anymore. I don't know, but I'm... Yeah. Just not betting against me. No. No. No. Heck.
No. Not a scientist. I'm gonna find yeah. Just stop say. I know I I still... I've always had this desire to race, you know, back in the day, we would race 40 50 times a years as many race we could find, and I still have that fire. Always you know, a chance of me running 14 35, because I'm guessing those days are probably done, you know, But most, you know Yeah. Get older, he just... You know, you slow down, you go longer. You know what's this else be an ultra guy coming You know you
have the ultra... Have the ultra guy shirt on. You know, 1 there. Oh, man, you do, bro, you do crazy. But absolutely. And and I assume that when you go out now, you that you're not... Or maybe you are, are you running riding whatever solo or are you taking people with you or how does that work? Yeah. Most mostly lender by myself. You know, just... I have no problem. You know, I ride with friends and stuff like that. But, you know, I wanna work do a workout. I I wanna do my workout.
You know, what have you. So... But, you know, this this sport has given me so much over the years and it's been because of partners, you know, work workout partners or whatnot, and I've had a you know, like most people just these great groups whether... You know I lived in Minnesota for 25 years and these maze and groups, runners and riders and, you you know, traveling the races together as, you know, as most
people do. And, you know, And it's... Honestly, those 6 years were... I I missed... I still have those friends, but it just missed that Saturday morning long runs. And, you know, a Wednesday night time for, you know, stuff like that. So, you know, it's for you? Can't wait to get back. And I and I love being at there. You know, we, my wife and I went a little you know, events management company. So we direct 10 different for races. You know, and small, you, between 600 and
a thousand people in it. We started that because it it feels like, home when I'm there. Just feels... It's like my people you know, and I'm being it start and finish fine. That's where That's where I enjoy being. You know? So so that's where we are. We've a race, Thursday, and I'm super excited you just to be, you know, at the... That's the race Man that is great. Yeah. And And then after that, so in in between now and in Indy, what does it look like for him?
I'm doing a 50 k in in August for peak here in in upper michigan. And so it it's, you know, it's more about just making the cutoff, You know, So it'd be a lot of fast hiking, jogging downhill and stuff. And, you know, So I'll make the cutoff and stuff, but it's a race we signed up for right after transplant where I was feeling. Oh, I'm gonna be just rocking this, You know, oh gosh.
I'll finish it. Oh, no problem Finish Obviously, you know and I'll make the cutoff and stuff, but it's not gonna be a... You know... I'm not gonna be on the podium is what I'm hearing. But I have not be nothing. Podium. Wow I think the only 60 year old guy there. I don't know. He 1A3. Tim's boy. Yeah Podium at the Tim's point, not betting against you, man. That is for sure of chow. 2 1 out of 3. So is your wife running this 50 k with you? She's registered. Yeah. I think she's gonna end
up being a a support or crew. Okay. Right for so like, Yeah. I know. Yeah. Just... You know, because I'm so used to back in the day. We would just sign it for everything. Let me just... I hey. There's a k this Saturday in Marathon on Sunday. Let's doing both affairs how I just had this mentality still, and I think a lot of athletes that they get to be my age either lose that desire to compete, you know, to toe the line.
I I still have that. You know? And it's whether it's A mountain bike race, whether it's an ultra, mile mile on the track. I can't wait to do a mile on the track. You know? I'm just just love race. And I love you and I get out there and bumping elbows and just see who's gonna win, you know, Interested not afraid to not afraid to find out So Oh, my gosh. And you, like, he's said, your care team is all on board with this And absolutely. And I I have high confidence in all of that. I'm my, I'm like,
oh, my. God I is incredible. Dairy, it's like, III think like, reading this this story is not nearly the same as talking like, now I get it. After talking now I get it. Now I get it. Funny. I think athletes understand. You know, when it's it's nice that we had this care team now not necessarily runners Yeah. Completely understood what I want to do Yeah. And they they were wonderful. We had the best care best hospital. I mean it was
just just amazing. You know, we've done a lot of work with them with with Donate life and whatnot. And and yeah. It's pretty cool. And what does that look like? You know, your... I mean, you have some sort of commitment or contract or whatever with donate life where they're like, hey, man. Can you come out and talk to folks at these events and you're like, yeah, Are you show up places and go hey Ps and by the way. How does that work?
Yeah. No. They just... When they ask, I I have yet to turn them down. You know a, way I spoke at a... Donate life flag raising about 6 weeks ago. I spoke at the hospital to a group of new Icu nurses, my my... Experience being in the Icu for a couple months good and bad and whatnot. And Yeah. You know, there's... We get calls all the time, and, you know, there's talks of, you know, possibly a book, you know, down the road and stuff, because it's even before transplant, you know, it was a
it was crazy life. You know, just you know, running, running kinda dictated life for a long time, you know, and good and bad. You know what just this... You know, do I go to work or do I do this run? You a bunch of. We should have gone to work That's all Oh, yeah Yeah Know. I have some Hook run stories and they never end well. Oh Yeah. It's like. So it's like... And then just this this whole story of like, I... You, I shouldn't say, I shouldn't have gotten, you know, part failure.
Yeah. You know, It's just... That I did and how we handled this journey and whatnot, and you know, people thought we were the most positive people over the last 5 years and we probably were, but they didn't see us that first 6 months after diagnosis. You know, was was tough tough time. Yeah. You know, when I, you know, that identity loss and whatnot. Yeah. So... Yeah It's so good now though, and I was... I think that's what helped me in Icu or it, you, and, you know,
and transplant what? Not It was just get this shit done. You on? Hey hill, man. Get through it. Absolutely. Yeah. Like you said, the next the next chapter. Right? Yeah. Which clearly You don't wanna to be written. Yeah. I... And and I'd On... I'd like to think I'd be able to race again. I really hope, you know, and run hard what what what that means. I don't know. You know, but, you know, right now, it's it's not today. You know it's not this weekend, You know.
So... It's part of the journey though. I mean, you've talked about journey. And it is... It's part of the journey as the comeback. But, man, we really appreciate your time today. Absolutely sharing your story. I'd I absolutely love it. I'm very grateful for for you being willing to take the time, and and Let us see you kinda transparent, and, absolutely. III really do hope that there's a day that you get to to meet the donors family.
That'd be wonderful. Yeah. So... Yeah. Just... You know, my wife and I would be. It it'd be amazing. Yeah. It really would be. So maybe even more important than the running piece I think would be Yeah. That introduction and, you know, even to be able to you know, hang on to the chest there and just here. Yeah. You know, hear that thing beat and stuff, and, you know, it's her. Yeah that'd be wonderful be wonderful. Yeah. Hard to not get emotional with that. Yeah, man. Sure.
No kidding. Yeah. Derek. Thank you so much. Absolutely your progress. Absolutely. Please. I appreciate it. And maybe next year you come to Charlotte instead of going Indianapolis. Absolutely. Well that's. If I'm invited. Come on down. I'm sitting self invited. Wonderful. Hey, guys. I really appreciate it. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Hey. I gotta ask you. Yeah. Please. You're from upper peninsula now. Up? Yep. Well, we have a house in Milwaukee then a house up in Market, so I
spent my summers. I'm in Market right now, actually. Okay. I spent much of my childhood in Marina, Wisconsin. So nice. I could throw a rock and hit
nominee, Michigan. Yeah for my backyard. So there was we lived over the fence in our backyard where the train tracks coming down from the upper peninsula and the ore cars carrying all these little iron ore pellets, and they're just, you know, hauling down, hauling down, and is just, you know, we would go in in on the railroad tracks and we would hop the trains. Did a ride for a while. That's if I ever caught my kids doing that, I don't kill them bring ring. Somebody's in that.
Yeah Like like to people Yeah. And, you know, and meredith that, we, you know we we drive 2 Marina for week. You know, back and forth whatever. And, you know, Mary had, I don't know last time you were here, if it's been a number of years, or since you've been here been a while. You well, actually, 5 years. 5 years. Okay. Yeah. So it is it is a just a row pot shops. It is just pot. It's legal here. It's
legal here in Michigan. So it's just want in that whole strip where used to be like Kfc down there with Perkins whenever it is just 1 right after another just and their lines of cars at each I like, what? Yeah. Just... But there's Marina now. So Mary city. There you go. Welcome. Alright, My friend. Hey Appreciate it, guys. Thanks again, Derek. Thanks you. Thank you. Appreciate it. The running around Charlotte Podcast is presented by
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