Clinton Blazevich was told he could live with his heart condition for maybe three to five years before needing a heart transplant.
That was nearly 20 years ago.
Blazevich, 42, suffers from myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, and cardiomyopathy, a condition that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. Doctors believe an unknown virus that Blazevich contracted when he was 24 caused the cardiomyopathy.
This year, his symptoms worsened, prompting doctors to install a heart pump to buy him time while waiting for a transplant.
“I made it 19 (years) without the transplant, so I had a really good run,” said Blazevich, who is the pastor of Cheswick Christian Fellowship.
Blazevich of Elizabeth Township said he was used to living with shortness of breath, bloating, tiredness and exhaustion but, when he started to feel pressure and burning in his chest and had trouble talking, he knew something was wrong.
“I would say, for the past two years, I had seen a decline in my health, but I would say, starting in about March or April, I started to see a real decline in my health,” he said.
One night, after a particularly bad episode, it was clear he needed to see a doctor.
“My wife thought, ‘It’s time to call 911,’ ” he said.
Blazevich said doctors told him if he had waited even just a few more days, he would have started to go into organ failure.
That’s when they decided to install the heart pump.
“It’s a bridge to transplant. The eventual goal is to transplant me,” he said. “They’re talking probably around the first of the year to start looking for a heart.”
In addition to being the church pastor, Blazevich also taught Bible classes and physical education on a volunteer part-time basis at Cheswick Christian Academy, which is affiliated with the church. He also coached the girls’ varsity basketball team. He had to give up those obligations while going through cardiac rehab this year to recover from surgery.
“The saddest part for me about it all is this is my daughter’s senior year and my last chance to coach her,” he said.
The church organized a fundraiser to help ease the family’s financial burden as Blazevich awaits a transplant. A spaghetti dinner will be held Sept. 7 at the Allegheny Valley Volunteer Fire Company No. 1., 851 Parkway Drive, Springdale Township.
“I’m just hoping that it will bring our community closer,” said Debbie Caldwell, a church member who helped organize the fundraiser. “I think churches need to bond together in times of things like this.”
Caldwell said the church has been through a lot over the past year after their former pastor had to step down last fall for health reasons and then finding out Blazevich would need the transplant.
“We had a lot of things happen to us at one time,” she said. “Our church is standing strong and firm.”
While insurance will cover most of the cost of the transplant, Blazevich said it could cost at least $5,500 a year for required medication. His wife also had a take a leave of absence from her job to care for him this year.
“I’m very humbled and appreciative,” he said. “The community owes me nothing. I owe my church everything.”
