Identical twins from WNY receive lifesaving heart transplants a decade apart.

This is the story about the gift of life.

Times two.

Literally. It is quite miraculous.

Michael and Mark Mathews are identical twins and both have received lifesaving heart transplants.

Both men began their public service at the age of 18 as Volunteer Firefighters & EMTs for the City of Dunkirk Fire Department.  They were active volunteers and at the age of 21, Mark became a police officer with the City of Dunkirk Police Department.

Michael continued his service as an EMT for Alstar Ambulance and as a part time civilian dispatcher for the Dunkirk Police Department. He also served throughout the years as an Assistant Fire Chief for the Dunkirk Fire Department, a Certified Lab and EMT Instructor, and an American Heart Association CPR Instructor.

Both men suffered heart defects and needed a transplant.

Michael was first.  In 2006, his health deteriorated quickly and in August of that year, with his twin brother by his side, Michael received the gift of life and had a successful heart transplant at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, “On my birthday July 29, 2006 I was in end stage heart failure and in a lot of pain from all the fluid I was retaining. I could not walk more than 3 steps without stopping because of the shortness of breath. I knew if I didn’t get a transplant soon I would not survive long and I had been suffering for so long I did not know how much more I could take. Thankfully I received my transplant on 8-2-2006.”

Mark stood by, watching, waiting, and worrying. He told me it was brutal, “Watching my brother go through the transplant was horrifying. Being an identical twin is difficult because seeing your twin in a hospital bed is like looking in a mirror. Going through my transplant was a lot easier. The fear of the unknown is the worst but after being through it with my brother I knew what to expect.” Michael echoed the sentiments, “Even though I knew what to expect, it was very difficult to watch my brother go through what I did.
Watching my twin brother go through a serious medical issue is hard and emotionally it is probably harder than going through it myself. Going through a heart transplant is tough but getting your life back after transplant is priceless and worth the struggle.”

Michael returned to his life, his work as an EMT with Alstar Ambulance and as a Police Dispatcher for the Dunkirk Police Department. Michael is married with a 1-year-old baby boy and a newborn daughter. He is living a happy, healthy life and continues to give back to the community he loves.

In 2017, eleven years after his brother was given the gift of life, so too was Mark. In that mirror now, a true self-reflection. That same genetic heart condition that had plagued his twin, came for Mark, too. This time with Michael by his brother’s side – Mark received a lifesaving heart transplant.

Mark was grateful for that amazing gift, “I currently do not know who my donor is. There is a procedure to follow in order to find out. The procedure involves me having to give my transplant coordinator a letter which cannot contain any identifiable information. I intend to do so after I think I have given the donor family enough time to grieve.”

Mark loves hanging out with his two boys, ages 13 and 8. He is back on the job; a detective with the Dunkirk Police Department. For Mark, now a year after his transplant, life is good, “I am doing great now. I am enjoying life with my children, I am working full time, taking Tai Chi lessons twice a week, and playing recreation men’s league sports again.”