Anchors away! Heart-kidney transplant recipient sets sail to raise awareness for organ donation

Ardell Lien is a man on a mission. The 70-year-old retired military officer is on a solo sailing adventure around the world in his 27-foot boat "Catalyst." Ardell, recipient of a heart-kidney transplant at Mayo Clinic in January 2003, is using his 27,000 mile, 15-month journey to help raise awareness of the critical need for organ donation.

"Sailing is my passion, but increasing the number of registered organ donors is my mission," he says.

Sailing around the world was a lifelong dream of Ardell's. But a few years ago, he thought his sailing days were behind him forever. Ardell and his wife Maureen had been living aboard their sailboat for six years when his health forced them to sell their boat and return to their hometown of Caledonia, Minn.

"I'd been diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 1991 but had very few symptoms until 1998," Ardell recalls. "By 2001, I was down to 150 pounds and everyone in town knew I was on my way out. I slept 18 hours a day and had to crawl up the stairs to my bedroom. I couldn't even help carry groceries into the house."

Ardell's first appointment at Mayo Clinic was in July 2002. By October, his health had deteriorated significantly and he was admitted to Saint Marys Hospital to await transplant. He had also sustained kidney damage due to insufficient blood supply to the organ and was told he would need both a heart and kidney transplant.

On Jan. 1, 2003, Ardell received the good news that a matching heart and kidney were available. Surgery began at 2:30 the next morning. That evening, Maureen visited Ardell in the recovery room and was surprised to find that his hands were warm.

"Because of my circulation problems, my hands hadn't been warm in years," explains Ardell. "The transplant made a difference immediately."

Ten days later, Ardell was released from Saint Marys Hospital. Transplant recipients are required to stay in Rochester for 90 days after surgery for follow-up appointments, so Ardell joined his wife at the Gift of Life Transplant House where she had stayed throughout his months of hospitalization.

"My recovery went very well," says Ardell. "I had no pain, and each day was better than the one before."

Ardell credits the staff at Mayo Clinic with helping aid his recovery.

"Everyone at Mayo, from the people who work the desks to the physicians, nurses and technicians, were excellent," says Ardell. "My primary physician, Dr. Brooks Edwards, was always there with support and encouragement. I am proud to call him my friend. And you couldn't find a finer group of professionals than the staff of Charlton 9 (the Transplant Center)."

Six months after his transplant, Ardell roofed his house. In the summer of 2004, he remodeled another home from roof to basement. And shortly after that, he hatched his plan for sailing around the world.

"I never thought I'd be doing this at 70, alone, in a very small boat," he says. "But that is what gets attention and will help get my message out. I hope my journey will show how one life was changed for the better because of a generous, heroic organ donor."

To learn more about Ardell Lien's journey and organ donation, visit Organ Donation for Life Inc (opens in new window).