Michele Callahan

Michele Callahan lived a healthy lifestyle, stayed fit, never smoked and drank alcohol only occasionally. That’s why she was shocked when diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease that would lead to a heart transplant.

At 54, Michele suffered two heart attacks just weeks apart. She had no blocked arteries, and doctors could not determine the cause. Soon after, overwhelming fatigue led to a diagnosis of heart failure.

After seeking answers at several hospitals, Michele traveled to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, where physicians diagnosed her with lymphocytic myocarditis, a rare autoimmune disease. After three months on the transplant waiting list, she received a new donor heart.

Today, Michele dedicates herself to giving back. As a LifeQuest volunteer, she regularly visits heart transplant candidates, offering encouragement and the perspective of someone who has walked the same journey.

“I volunteer now to share my story in hopes that someone else’s life can be saved,” she said.

Michele is deeply grateful to her donor and donor family. Every six months, she writes a letter expressing her gratitude, simply to honor the person who gave her a second chance at life.