eet Billy Luckie.  He is awaiting a heart transplant because of a very rare heart condition known as Restrictive Cardiomyopathy.  Billy is 62 years old and is married to his  high school sweetheart Joanne.  He is a father of two sons, a grandfather to 3 grandsons and 1 granddaughter.
 

 This site will have updates on Billy's health and the transplant process.  It will also have info on how you can help with some of the substantial financial needs that will occur. Most importantly though, we would appreciate your prayers as we as a family walk through this process.  We are confident that God is in control of this situation even when we sometimes have problems understanding.

Billy is being treated by the Heart Transplant Team at UAB in Birmingham, Alabama.  At this time his condition is very serious and  he needs a transplant sooner rather than later.  The condition that Billy has is extremely rare and the Doctors at UAB have told him they only see this condition about once every 3 to 4 years. 

A HUGE THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE KEPT US IN YOUR PRAYERS, SENT NOTES AND CARDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT, SENT DONATIONS TO NTAF ON BILLY'S BEHALF AND SUPPORTED OUR GOLF TOURNAMENT.  YOUR KINDNESS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.  GOD BLESS YOU!!!
                                                    The Luckie Family

The Golf Tournament Was Held on Saturday 6/18 and was a great success and lot of fun.  THANK YOU to all who participated and supported the event!!  Click Here to view pictures from the event

Click Here To Read About A Lesson Billy Is Teaching Us

Click A Link Below To Read More

July 29, 2005
Billy quietly and peacefully passed away this morning at 6:04 am with several family members by his side.   Funeral arrangements will be posted as soon as they are finalized.  Please continue to pray for the family.   

July 24, 2005
Patience is definitely going to have to be our way of life.  Billy's condition has changed very little over the last week.  The Doctor has said that there definitely is still hope for survival so we wait.  Please Click Here To Read More.

July 19, 2005
Billy Condition is really unchanged over the last few days. The toll on his body is starting show but doctors continue to try to help him the best they know how. Please Click Here To Read More Details

July 16, 2005
Billy's condition is very cautiously stable this morning.  Doctors started adjusting his medications on Friday in an effort to improve his situation.  It is somewhat risky when this is done, but so far things have stayed fairly stable.  Please Click Here To Read More Details.

July 13, 2005
Billy's condition became very grave on Monday afternoon and doctors called for his sons to return to Birmingham to be with him.  Once again miraculously he survived.  Tonight he had another episode where he actually coded with an extremely fast heartbeat but recovered before they started shocking him.  Please Click Here To Read More Details.

July 10, 2005
Billy's condition today brings a few changes.  They will be starting him back on the dialysis but doctors say that overall  he is "trending in the right way".    Please Click Here To Read More Details.
 

July 9, 2005 - Revised Comprehensive Update
Billy's doctors say that his condition is very, very critical.  He is still unconscious, on a ventilator and not able to breathe on his own.  His is a still very sick and still in need of our prayers.  On Friday God taught us that he was still in the business of miracles, now he is teaching us about patience.  Please Click Here For More Info.

July 8, 2005 - Update#2
Billy's doctor just came out and spoke with the family.  It is indeed the condition called constrictive pericarditis.  The doctor said he is very optimistic about Billy's condition.  They will know more about his prognosis in the days to come.  We are very thankful that Billy had decided to proceed with this procedure because this is what allowed the doctors to find out that his condition was different than they thought.  It appears that the two conditions mimic each other.  We thank you for your prayers and ask that you continue to pray him through his recovery period.  Please Click Here for more details.

July 8, 2005   
Billy's surgery started around 12:40 pm.  The family heard a bit of encouraging news from the doctors around 2:15pm.  When they opened up his chest and viewed the heart they discovered that they may have misdiagnosed his condition the whole time.  His heart appears to be suffering from a condition called constrictive pericarditis instead of Restrictive Cardiomyopathy which involves a thickening of the pericardium (around the heart) instead of the heart itself.  He is still in very bad condition and they are still working on him.  His kidneys are still very bad, too.  Please continue to pray because this is still a very dangerous situation.  Thanks so much for your prayers!

July 7, 2005 - Update#2
We received very bad news this afternoon.  They have now removed Billy from the transplant list due to his worsening condition. They only thing they can do for him is to proceed with implanting the VAD device.  The surgery is scheduled for noon tomorrow (Friday) and will last 4 - 5 hours.  So many people have asked if we need anything.  All we need right now are your prayers that this surgery will be successful and buy him some time until he can get back on the transplant list and hopefully get a heart.  As alway, we thank you for your prayers in this difficult time.  Click Here for more details.

July 7, 2005
Billy's condition has changed for the worse in the last 24 hours.  His brain is not getting the proper oxygen it needs and is causing problems.  It appears we may be having to make some hard decisions as a family very soon. Please Continue To Pray and if you would like to learn more Click here for details.

July 6, 2005  - Update#2
Billy's primary doctor brought positive news this morning, so we decided to put out a second update for today.  Please Click Here to read the latest updates.

July 6, 2005
Billy's condition is very precarious right now.  He is having some more problems and things continue to be constantly changing.  Please Click Here to read the latest updates.

July 3, 2005
Comprehensive Update
By the Grace of God, Billy survived the latest turn for the worse.  He is once again very cautiously stable and very fragile.  He has suffered kidney failure and is on constant dialysis and will now definitely require a kidney transplant in addition to the heart transplant.  In addition, he has been move to Status 1A on the transplant list which is the highest possible level. To read more on these developments and others, Please Click Here.

July 1, 2005
URGENT UPDATE
Billy's condition has taken a serious turn for the worse.  Doctors have already started some aggressive procedures to try to stabilize him again and are suggesting even more aggressive procedures.  Billy's family will be forced to make some very difficult decisions in the next few days.  Your prayers are needed.  Please Click Here to read more.

June 29, 2005
There have been a few setbacks this week, but the phrase "Stable but Fragile" still seems to be a good description.  Please Click Here to read more.

June 21, 2005
Pictures from the Golf Tournament have been posted in the photo gallery.  Click Here to view.

June 20, 2005
There are no real changes to report.  According to the doctors Billy's situation remains stable but very fragile.  Please Click Here to read more.

June 19, 2005
The Billy Luckie Charity Golf Tournament was held on Saturday and was a great success.  Please Click Here to read more.

June 13, 2005
The medical staff at UAB has been successful in getting Billy stable again.  Also we have now posted their temporary mailing address while they are in B'ham.  Please Click Here to read more details.

June 9, 2005
Billy was readmitted to the hospital two days earlier than expected because of complications caused by the massive amount of fluid build up in his body.  Please Click Here to read more details.

June 3, 2005
Update - Billy was released from the hospital late Thursday but will be readmitted next Thursday and will stay until Transplant.  He cannot receive anymore abdominal taps to remove the fluid build up in his abdomen.  Also Billy's wife Joanne is experiencing significant back problems. Please Click Here to read more details.

June 1, 2005
Hospital Update - Good News from the liver biopsy and his kidney function is slowly recovering from this setback. this weekend.  Please Click Here to read more details.

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