The Gift of Life w/ Armin Muzafirović

His traditional Bosnian upbringing showed Armin Muzafirović the importance of hard work, determination, and having an unrelenting drive. These qualities would prepare Armin for the future fight of his life.
At just sixteen-years old, Armin was diagnosed with a failing heart that would ultimately require constant medical attention. At only seventeen, Armin would have a pacemaker implanted into his chest. Just two years later, Armin had yet another surgery to receive an internal defibrillator, also known as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
Additionally, he had a right ventricular assist device (RVAD) and a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) installed. These devices pump blood from one’s right and left ventricle, respectively, into one’s pulmonary artery and to the lungs.
All of the aforementioned steps were crucial in keeping Armin alive while his heart continued to deteriorate. With an ejection fraction of only fifteen percent, and forty pounds of gained fluid around his heart, Armin was ultimately admitted to the hospital with a nonfunctional heart. He drifted in and out of consciousness over and over again.
Hear as we speak on the long and tenuous months that followed his admission to the hospital. Then, experience his elation upon finally receiving the call he’d been waiting for. Some kind, dearly departed soul had chosen to give Armin his heart.
Having received the ultimate gift of life, Armin now advocates and raises awareness regarding organ donation in every way imaginable, including the Iowa Donor Network. Armin co-founded and served as President of the Student Organ Donation Advocates Chapter (SODA) at the University of Northern Iowa, the very first SODA Chapter in the state of Iowa.
Having since graduated from UNI, where he majored in biology and minored in chemistry, Armin plans to attend medical school with aspirations of becoming a surgeon.
𝙀𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙞𝙙𝙚!
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