Cynthia Malone speaks publicly, educating people on the risk factors for heart disease. Her dedication to bringing awareness to audiences on ways to improve heart health, lifestyle changes, and pre and post-transplant experiences is based on what she has witnessed first-hand.

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With this statement, Cynthia emphasizes that two families were impacted on November 3, 2010: both the donor family and Coach Chip Malone’s. He and his wife spent fifty days at Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital for him to be listed as a candidate and miraculously receive a heart transplant in just three weeks.

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Several factors influence the wait time for a heart transplant:

• Medical Urgency: Patients with more critical conditions are prioritized higher on the transplant list.

• Donor Availability: The number of suitable donor hearts is limited, and compatibility with the recipient is crucial.

• Geographic Location: Proximity to the donor can affect wait times due to the time-sensitive nature of heart transplants.

• Blood Type and Size Compatibility: Matching the donor's blood type and heart size with the recipient is essential, which can

                                    extend wait times for some individuals.

• Allocation Policies: Changes in organ allocation systems, such as prioritizing patients on life-support devices, can impact wait times.

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Coach Narleski “Chip” Malone used the next 4.5 years to remind

communities of the importance of heart disease prevention. Currently,

there are over 104,799 people in the U.S. waiting for a lifesaving

organ transplant to enhance the quality of their lives. About 3,000

of those waiting is in the state of Georgia. Seventeen people die a

day waiting for organ donation. 

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There is no glamour in the process of recovery nor the fight to maintain good post-transplant health. Cynthia Malone, wife and co-founder of Chip’n Away @ Heart Disease, is thankful for the multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals and the transplant family that provided care to her husband during those years.