Although Nicholas Murchison has been through so much over the past couple years, his attitude is still a positive one.
Murchison, 18, of Sanford, who’s known as Nick, is a freshman. He recently underwent heart transplant surgery at UNC-Chapel Hill hospital. Murchison said he had not been feeling well for quite some time.
“I was having leg cramps, and I couldn’t walk long distances. I went to the doctor, and they said that I had strep throat. I was given some medication and sent home,” said Murchison.
Nevertheless, the tiredness, pain and fevers persisted. During his senior year of high school, Murchison collapsed in class. It was at this time he discovered he had a hereditary disease, congestive heart failure. Many of his preceding male relatives had been diagnosed with this disease. Those who came before him had a different ending to their stories.
Murchison, along with the support of his mother and close family, decided to go to college despite his condition. Many had concerns and were reluctant to see him go, but he was determined not to let his circumstances hinder his decision to go to school.
As he went through his first semester of college, everything seemed all right. Despite a few trips to the hospital, he still continued on as if nothing was wrong.
Just as he was beginning his second semester, he got a phone call from his mother. This phone call was not an ordinary one, his mother told him the news that he had been waiting to hear for so long.
He had received the donor heart that he had been patiently waiting for.
That same night he went to the hospital in Chapel Hill. After all of the technicalities were finished, he went into surgery.
The transplant went well, but Murchison was weak. A week after the surgery was performed, he was walking around the hospital. The doctors told the family that he was recovering much quicker than most patients. The next week, Murchison was discharged from the hospital.
“It was a miracle, Nick’s receiving a heart and everything’s going well. I thank God for this blessing, and I appreciate all of the love, prayers and thought that was given to our family,” said Mrs. Murchison.
Murchison, who is also a member of Winston-Salem State University’s gospel choir, Inspirational Voices, had loads of support from his fellow choir members after the choir participated in a benefit in November at Friendship Baptist Church in Fayetteville to provide financial support for medical expenses after learning of his plight. Murchison had been on a waiting list for a heart transplant for over a year.
Just recently, the doctors let Nick know that he could return to his daily routine.
“With my new heart, I am ready to take on whatever life brings,” Murchison said.