Heart-lung transplant can’t keep longtime middle school teacher out of the classroom

KY Forward | Allison Perry
Teacher David Morrow, who received a combined heart and kidney transplant at UK Chandler Hospital, is back in his middle school classroom. (Photo from UKNow)

After 34 years in the classroom, many schoolteachers might be looking to move on to new things.

Not David Morrow. The 57-year-old science and language arts teacher at East Washington Middle School in Pekin, Ind., is now in his 35th year of teaching and still going strong.

That alone is impressive enough. Even more impressive? The fact that Morrow is back in his classroom today after undergoing a combined heart and kidney transplant at UK Chandler Hospital last November.

But for those who know Morrow best, his determination comes as no surprise.

“He’s probably one of the most stubborn men you’ll ever meet,” said Linda Leudeman, former principal at EWMS who has known David for nearly 15 years. “Which is probably a big reason why he’s here today, because he did not give up.”

Morrow’s health troubles had been going on for some time. Six years ago, he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and received an internal cardiodefibrillator (ICD). Then his kidneys began to shut down, and Morrow began receiving dialysis under the care of Dr. Jayakrishnakamal Konijeti of Nephrology Associates of Kentuckiana (NAK).
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