‘He sees what I need, and He is going to make it happen’: Central Texas mom fighting for her life as she awaits ‘the perfect heart’

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A young Central Texas mom battling congestive heart failure is spending her sixth week in the cardiothoracic ICU waiting on a new heart, and while she’s still finding a way to smile, the challenges are growing, including her dire health, the distance from her children and mounting medical bills.

Katie Russell, 32, of Waco, has no idea how long she’ll be waiting at Baylor Scott and White in Temple but knows she can’t leave the hospital without the transplant.

“The first thing to happen next is to get that heart,” Katie said. “I am waiting for the perfect heart, a B positive heart.”

Katie is a ray of sunshine, despite the unknown challenges every day is bringing.

Until a few months ago, Katie had no idea anything was wrong.

“On June 4, I was not feeling well but just as any working toddler mom does, you just push through, and you keep going,” Katie said.

The next day, Katie felt even worse.

She had flu-like symptoms and was exhausted.

Her dad, Mark, took her blood pressure and when it was low, Katie’s family, including her mom, Robin, encouraged her to go to Premiere ER in Woodway.

After testing there, Dr. Jason Bryant delivered the news that shocked her, devastated her, but also potentially saved her life.

“It’s one of those kinds of Lifetime movies where he sits down and he’s like ‘well I need to tell you . I think you’re in heart failure’ and that’s when the panic really sets in. I’m 32, and I’m a mom and I work full time. There’s no way, he’s got to be mistaken,” Katie said.

Katie was diagnosed with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure and left bundle branch block.

She’d spend the next few months in and out of the hospital hoping medications, therapy and a change in diet would help.

On October 1, Katie had a CRT-D device implanted which is a pacemaker and defibrillator in one but her health continued to decline.

“By mid-October, I was nearly passing out every time I would stand up to the point that I was crawling to get short distances so that it did not take more time having to adjust from standing to sitting,” Katie said.

Katie was admitted to the cardiothoracic intensive care unit on October 21 and hasn’t left since.

She had another device surgically implanted called an Impella 5.5 which is a heart pump that perfuses blood throughout her body.

Katie knows it’s just a temporary fix.

“We don’t have a time frame for a heart right now,” Katie said. " It’s just kind of what becomes available."

Katie’s husband, Derek, a detective with the McLennan County Sherriff’s Office, hasn’t left his wife’s side.

Katie is the mom to a “bonus” daughter, Kimble, 12, and a 2-year-old daughter, Kora, whom she shares with Derek.

She got emotional when describing the separation from her toddler.

“While I see my daughter as much as possible, I don’t get to to rock her to sleep every night and that’s really hard,” Katie said as she wiped away tears.

Katie says she’s blessed with the best support team which also includes her brother, Drew, and sister-in-law, Rachel and her churches of Crestview Church of Christ and Renew Church.

“My support system is larger than life itself,” Katie said.

Her family decorated every square inch of her room for Christmas.

It’s something Dr. Jorge Velazco, director of the cardiothoracic unit, noticed as he described the cheer Katie brings to everyone around her.

“If you were to go by her room, you’ll see even the pump that’s supporting her heart is wrapped with stuff for Christmas,” Velazco said.

Katie’s the program director for Arrow Child and Family Ministries in Waco, an organization she says has been amazing.

“They come up here, they bring me what I need,” Katie said. “They’ve washed my hair. They’ve massaged my feet.”

Both Katie and Derek are both nearing their maximum for paid time off.

Katie’s last paycheck will come in a couple of weeks and Derek’s in January.

“The world keeps spinning and bills keep coming even though we’re living here in the hospital right now,” Katie said.

Katie says the stress of waiting on a new heart won’t dim her holiday cheer this year as she leans into her faith in God trusting the heart she needs will come soon.

“Trusting in the waiting that His timing is perfect. He hasn’t left. He hasn’t gone anywhere. He sees what I need, and He is going to make it happen,” Katie said. “It’s just in His time.”

There are currently 438 people in the state of Texas in need of a donor’s heart.

If you’re not already listed as a donor on your driver’s license, Katie encourages you to sign up at donatelifetexas.org.

If you’d like to donate to help the Russells during their time of need, there is a Katie Russell Fund set up at The First National Bank of Central Texas.

You can also donate to the family’s GoFundMe.

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