~Leading A Normal Life~

Picture taken March 9, 1998 "Pre-Transplant."

My name is Franklin "Frankie" Delano Heintz, Jr. I live in New Orleans, Louisiana, where, I have been followed by the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Tulane Medical Center since 1973, where I was first presented at the age of seven weeks. A diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) was officially made at that time. I was then followed at periodic intervals in the pediatric CF Clinic until 1994. During much of my childhood and teenage years, I had a relatively severe case of cystic fibrosis with several hospitalizations and numerous surgeries.

I have always known I had cystic fibrosis. I had a completely "normal childhood", and I have the photo albums and memories to prove it. I started going in the hospital on a regular basis at birth. My first surgery was at the age of three days (72 hours) when a Meconium Ileus was performed. However; all of my infections were so severe that all of my hospitalizations began in the emergency room. I did not actually go in the hospital for a scheduled "Tune-up" until I was 21 years old.

I began attending Nicholls State University in 1992 where I was majoring in Sports Medicine. In 1990 I began working as a Student Athletic Trainer, for DeLaSalle High School where I worked with the football team, the basketball team, and the baseball team. I did this until June of 1994.

In 1994, I ended up on a ventilator for 21 days at Tulane University Hospital. After several months worth of rehabilitation, I went back to school at Nicholls. I was forced to chang my major to Mass Communications, as I could no longer perform the physical duties which were required of me as an Athletic Trainer.

My major was communications with an emphasis in radio broadcasting. It was then I fell in love with FM Radio and how it worked.

After I discovered my passion for radio, soon after I returned to school, I began studying and working very closely with Nicholls State University's very own radio station, KNSU. I served as a Disc Jockey, Program Director, and Chief Operator. In 1995, I was named "Most Dependable DJ". I contributed greatly until I had to leave school again in 1995 due to poor health, unfortunately never receiving a degree.

In the latter part of 1995, I began working at KXOR-FM in Thibodaux, LA. While there, I worked as Traffic Director and Board Operator. I worked there until I was offered the position as Operations Manager at the country's first privately owned commercial shortwave radio station, WRNO World Wide under the direction of Joseph Mark Costello, III.

I worked there as Operations Manager until I became too sick in November of 1997. I actually became too sick in June of that year, but continued working 7 days a week, 148 hours in a two week period. My determination was clearly seen by my co-workers and exspecially by my nurses, as they were having to come to the station daily to take care of my IV medications. In the those few years, I was capable of working, I acquired a very impressive resume' in broadcasting.

As for my health, I recently received my Bilateral (double) Lung Transplant at Ochsner Foundation Hospital on October 31, 1998 and to the amazement of both my Transplant Coordinator and Transplant Pulmonologist, I continue to recovery at a remarkable rate. This is all thanks to the stubborness, love, support, and the compassion and understanding of my friends, also nobody can forget the sacrafices my parents have made and continue to make. I would not be where I am at today with out that. My goal is to be in the best possible shape for a transplant recipient with cystic fibrosis both physicaly and mentally.

Thanks to my numerous hospitalizations, I have picked up several enjoyable hobbies. I enjoy writing short stories, poetry, and drawing.

Since my transplant, I have been asked plenty of questions. At times, I have not been able to put into words, the feelings and the experience as a whole. In the last few months, I have writen two articles about the entire transplant experience. One of these articles, "My Cystic Fibrosis" deals with my life pre-transplant. The other article "My Transplant Experience" was writen just two months after my transplant and describes in detail what it personaly was like for me, the night I received "the call" from my transplant coordinator.

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Thank you for visiting me, you are number since June 17, 1998