Walter Tempinski

Walter Tempinski

Transplant Type: Heart 

Walter Tempinski is awaiting a new lease on life. In 2018, he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Heart disease does not run in Walter’s family—his illness was caused by a virus that attacked his heart. Doctors say a heart transplant is critical to his survival. Last year, he received a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or “artificial heart” which helps his heart pump while he waits for a donor heart to become available. His condition leaves him very tired and takes a toll on his quality of life. 

During this difficult time, Walter is grateful for the love and support of his wife of 23 years, Michele, and their family and friends. He has two sons, Mark and Albert, who worry about his health. Albert, a 2019 high school graduate, is a creative and talented autistic teenager; family members step in to take care of him when Walter and Michele are at the hospital. 

Walter looks forward to receiving a transplant that will allow him to feel better, have more energy, and give him more time with his family. He enjoys his work as an architect—he and Michele have their own firm—and although he has continued to work, he’s had to take time away for medical appointments and hospitalizations. Walter wants nothing more than to be healthy so he can go back to doing projects around the house and building train layouts with his family. He’s able to do light work, but for the most part, his health prevents him from creating his designs. Walter loves swimming and kayaking with his family, but his LVAD’s power line makes it so that he can’t be near water. He looks forward to going in the water again and being able to enjoy time floating down a lazy stream. But right now, he needs your help.

The average heart transplant costs more than $1 million, and that’s only the beginning. Even with insurance, which will cover a portion of the transplant costs, he still faces significant expenses related to the surgery. For the rest of his life, he will need follow-up care and anti-rejection medications. Post-transplant medications are very expensive, and they’re as critical to his survival as the transplant itself. 

Walter lives 110 miles from his transplant center, and traveling back and forth for appointments can be expensive. When he receives his transplant he will have to temporarily relocate to be nearby while he recovers, incurring substantial expenses for travel, food, and lodging.

You can help by making a tax-deductible donation to NFT in honor of Walter. If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the NFT Oklahoma Transplant Fund, 3249 W. Sarazens Circle, Suite 100, Memphis, TN 38125. Please be sure to write "in honor of Walter Tempinski” on the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

P.S. Walter is a reserved, caring man that has always put others first. It is now the moment to show him the compassion he has given to all he has touched through the years.  

Patient Health Institute: Baptist Integris Hospital