On Labor Day of 1982, Charles Washington suffered a massive heart attack which reduced the function of his heart 60 to 70 percent. Although he returned to work three weeks later, Mr. Washington began to experience heart failure, the inability of the heart to sufficiently pump blood through the body. He underwent bypass surgery in January, 1983, but his health continued to deteriorate rapidly and he was told he would die within months without a heart transplant.
 Bud Frazier, MD, presents the “Promise Cross” to Charles Washington. |
By March, his family had raised the money for the operation. His employer donated the company plane for his transportation to Houston. His physician volunteered to personally escort him on the trip. Mr. Washington was so ill that he required a full medical team to accompany him on the flight. He was near death when he arrived at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital. Mr. Washington remained in intensive care for 17 days before a donor heart became available on March 27, the night of Easter.
As he was being rolled into the operating room, a nurse told him, "Mr. Washington, you’re getting an 18-year-old heart. What are you going to do with it?"
"I’m going to chase my wife around the room!" he proclaimed.
Mr. Washington is unlike most heart transplant patients in that he never experienced a rejection episode. Within three months he was able to leave the hospital to visit his home, and he was finally discharged in August and returned to work.
Mr. Washington began his career as a teacher of chemistry, physics and biology in Georgia, where he was honored by the Governor’s Education Board of Excellence. He later turned his talents to research, where he focused on weapons systems. He holds several patents for his work and has made significant contributions to the industry. For example, he created a uranium-based ordinance to penetrate and destroy tanks which has been used in both wars against Iraq.
Mr. Washington retired in 1999 but remained active in professional and community events. He served as a consultant to the Environmental Protection Agency on a board addressing the issues of toxic substances and legacy waste from weapons manufacturing facilities. He was also the president of the National Association of Black Chemists and remained active in the Lockheed Martin Inventors Forum.
Mr. Washington is still teaching these days at the Carter Perrimore Academy, a preparatory high school in Quincy, Florida. Once again, he’s teaching chemistry, physics and biology.
Mr. Washington and his wife, Eva, have three children, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. A few years ago, they lost their youngest son, who died suddenly from a massive heart attack.
Eva Washington says her husband still thinks he’s 18 years old. Mr. Washington looks forward to achieving the 25th anniversary of his heart transplant next year.
Return to Heart Transplant Program Celebrates 25 Years
