It’s been this way for years at VACo events. Members of the Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors walking together, eating together, and supporting each other. But at last year’s VACo Annual Conference, there was one member noticeably absent – Supervisor Dan Lee.
Dan was at VCU Medical Center waiting for a heart and a liver transplant. The long idle days were made a little easier as family and friends visited. His wife Alicia rarely left his side. Fellow Dinwiddie County Supervisor Bill Chavis cut Dan’s hair. Dan was re-elected and sworn in for his fourth term on the Board of Supervisors while in the Intensive Care Unit. His stay in the ICU would last through Thanksgiving, then the first week of December, then the second week.
But then… just before Virginia Tech’s Military Bowl Game, and just before Santa delivered his gifts, Dan got the call he knew would come. There was a heart and a liver available. And they were a perfect match.
On December 17, after 44 days in ICU, doctors prepped Dan for his new heart and liver. His faith never wavered because so many times before God had carried him through the tough times. Dan also felt the prayers, from family and friends and even strangers far away, giving him strength to endure the long days as life’s uncertain direction teetered back and forth.
When Dan woke from his transplant – his first question was whether he had a new heart or an artificial heart. There are times when the body rejects the new heart, and an artificial heart is transplanted. Everything was fine, he was told. He could feel his new heart, beating, thumping, making the sounds of life. The road to recovery held many challenges. It required faith, strength, courage, and patience.
On January 9, after 67 days at VCU Medical Center, Dan Lee transferred to Sheltering Arms to begin his rehab. Nine days later, Dan played six holes of Putt-Putt Golf, and word is that he destroyed the competition. On January 23, after 81 days, Dan was able to return to his home in DeWitt.
The milestones kept coming. He returned to Board meetings. He celebrated his 43rd wedding anniversary with Alicia. He threw out the first pitch at a Dinwiddie Dixie Softball Game. He attended his granddaughter’s first communion. He went to his granddaughters’ softball games, to a dance recital, to a piano recital. He held his 9th grandchild the day after he was born. He was spoiled on Father’s Day. He swung his driver on a golf course. He celebrated a birthday. Dan lived and continues to live life. Sweet life.
Dan – your strength and resilience through this journey are inspirations to many of us. May God continue to bless you and your family and friends.
Watch this video that chronicles Dan Lee’s heart and liver transplant journey.