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GreekReporter.comGreek NewsYoung Greek-American Gets Heart and Kidney Transplant, Pens Memoir

Young Greek-American Gets Heart and Kidney Transplant, Pens Memoir

Bill Coon, 21, has endured more than many of us would in a lifetime. In fact, he’s even beaten death twice. This double transplant recipient is a true survivor, and with his new book, he’s urging others facing serious illness to not give up – to “Swim.” We recently had the opportunity to speak to him about his life, his story of survival, and his memoir of that journey.

photo by Sara Bill

Tell us about you.

My parents are William, Jr. and Ann Gianaris Coon, and I grew up in Lake Zurich, Ill. I attend Saint Nectarios Church in Palatine and I grew up in a very Greek house. I was born with Hypoplastic Left Ventricle Syndrome – the left side of my heart was severely underdeveloped. A heart transplant was imperative, as my life expectancy was just 21 days. In the 11th hour, I received my first heart transplant – I was the the eighth infant in the nation to receive a heart transplant and the fourth in the Midwest. I had no health problems, until about the age of 20. That’s when my heart began to fail.

You spent a lot of time in the hospital.

I went into the hospital the first time, on June 8, 2009. I had multiple, lengthy hospital stays and once even changed doctors and hospitals. I spent a lot of energy actively participating in my care (you have to) and taking online courses – I didn’t want to get behind in my studies at Chicago’s Columbia College.  Ultimately, I needed a new heart plus a kidney transplant. I got my 2nd heart transplant on October 21, 2009, and a new kidney shortly thereafter.

Why did you keep a journal?

I began to journal for my own “personal therapy,” as I had no real outlet for the often overwhelming and multiple emotions I was feeling.  From the beginning, I always believed I’d make it, that’s why I continued journaling. There were only a few times I thought I wasn’t going to make it. Sometime between day seven and 14, I had an epiphany that I could potentially inspire another person to keep fighting, teach them to get through a mental battle if they could hang on. If I was able to survive, they could. It was my drive to continue to journal.  I then began writing with this goal in mind.

Tell us about the book.

It’s called “Swim: A Memoir of Survival.” It’s a compilation of journal entries and related short stories that enhance the journal. The book details, in great detail, my journey from heart failure to transplants. I don’t hold anything back. “Swim” is the title of a very inspiring song by the band Jack’s Mannequin, about the singer’s battle with advanced stage Leukemia. I could relate to it absolutely.

Why is this book important?

In the prologue of the book, I wrote, “I want you to know you are not alone. Though this book may not document your exact condition, I feel you will be able to draw many parallels, and find not only similarities, but also hope.” I’m reaching out to charities, anything to do with organ donations, organ failure in general. Cancer patients are also showing great interest in the book. I wrote the book for these kinds of people and their families.

I realize, in all humbleness, that someone had to die for me to live. I am blessed. I’m very grateful. Now, it’s for me to use what I have learned to help someone else learn to find hope, strength – the will – and to teach them to ‘swim’.

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