Cleveland Clinic volunteers help others waiting for new hearts
The Cleveland Plain Dealer | Casey Capachi
Photo: Gus Chan, The Plain DealerFrank Bianchi holds the voice recorder he uses to file reports for the Cleveland Clinic heart transplant calling program. Bianchi and another volunteer, both transplant recipients, call to offer transplant candidates support.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The morning began like any other for Frank Bianchi of Brunswick. The 56-year-old former steelworker awoke at about 5, ran for an hour on his treadmill and proceeded to carry out his daily duties as a self-proclaimed professional volunteer.
Every day, Bianchi, who lost his vision after a brain aneurysm at age 28, phones several of the 35 individuals on his list. Each is waiting for a heart transplant, just as he was 3½ years ago.
Bianchi checks in with them at least once a month, as part of a volunteer program started by his close friend Holly Mulkerin of Medina, who received her new heart at the Cleveland Clinic on the same day Bianchi did. Mulkerin, 55 and a retired hospital technician, and Bianchi live only four miles apart, but they did not know each other before their transplants.
Every day, Bianchi, who lost his vision after a brain aneurysm at age 28, phones several of the 35 individuals on his list. Each is waiting for a heart transplant, just as he was 3½ years ago.
Bianchi checks in with them at least once a month, as part of a volunteer program started by his close friend Holly Mulkerin of Medina, who received her new heart at the Cleveland Clinic on the same day Bianchi did. Mulkerin, 55 and a retired hospital technician, and Bianchi live only four miles apart, but they did not know each other before their transplants.
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