INDIANAPOLIS — After months of waiting and dozens of hours of rehab, Jeff Taber says he's excited to be returning to the "fun chaos" of home.
Taber, who had a Congenital Heart Defect, spent more than two years on the heart transplant list and has been at Riley Hospital since January. His old heart was enlarged, which affected his ability to breathe and his energy levels.
"With the [previous] heart, I would get fatigued very quickly so that was always the issue- those are the things now that aren't affecting me as much."
He received his donor heart on July 6.
WRTV first introduced you to Taber in February.Before his transplant, Taber said his focus was on maintaining his health so his body would be ready when a heart was available. Now, he can continue looking forward.
"[I've been] doing things that I've been wanting to do and being able to, you know, actually make goals that are progress. Back before [the transplant], it was always maintenance and no real improvement," Taber said. "Now [I] continue to set goals and continue to meet goals."
He says his faith and his family have gotten him through. Taber is a husband and father of eight.
IU Health houses one of the largest Adult Congenital Heart Defect programs in the Midwest. Taber is a part of the program through Riley.
CHD is the most common birth defect in the United States, according to the CDC.
-
‘13 FIRES’: One family’s story of resilience amid turmoil along Indiana Avenue
“13 FIRES” by Curtis K. Rogers tells the story of one family's resiliency while living along Indiana Avenue in 1956.
Dominated by No.2 Ohio State for years, No. 5 Indiana has a chance for payback
If Indiana beats Ohio State and closes out the season with a win over Purdue, the Hoosiers will be in the Big Ten championship for the first time since the inception of the game in 2011.
Preparing for the political chatter around the table on Thanksgiving
IU psychology professor Edward Hirt offers insight on navigating through this first big family get-together, since an historic and polarizing election.
No. 16 Indiana remains unbeaten with 69-58 win over UNC Greensboro
Myles Rice scored 14 of his 20 points in the first half, freshman Bryson Tucker finished with a season-high 14 and No. 16 Indiana got past UNC Greensboro 69-58 on Thursday night.
