Fond du Lac resident Rick Gilgenbach needs a heart transplant, but says during this Thanksgiving holiday he has so much to be thankful for. In 1996 Gilgenbach was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a disease that weakens the heart muscle making it less able to pump blood through the body. Gilgenbach has been on medication to control the problem, but recently the symptoms began to worsen and Rick was told he needed a heart transplant. One side of his heart doesn’t function properly and so doctors inserted a pump. Today Gilgenbach is on a waiting list for a new heart. “I go in for weekly check-ups and they’re (doctors) nothing but positive. They’re saying Rick everything that we did with the pump and the way you’re progressing is wonderful. You’re way ahead of schedule,” Gilgenbach told WFDL news. “When they put the pump in they said that was an invasive surgery, and now that that’s in, with the heart transplant, whenever that happens, it should be a breeze.” Heart problems run in the family. His father had the same problem and also had a heart transplant 26 years ago. But even with his condition, Gilgenbach says he has much to be thankful for this holiday weekend. “Number one I’m alive and kicking,” Gilgenbach said. “…the doctors diagnosed it right off the bat and sent me down to St. Lukes (hospital) and low and behold they figured out the problem, got me fixed up. I’d say I’m probably about 80 percent, ready to get back into the workforce and start doing things again. I’m obviously thankful for my family and friends in the community. They’ve helped out so much and there’s so much more out there.” A portion of the proceeds from the Thanksgiving eve Gobblefest celebration in Fond du lac goes to the Doc Gilgenbach Heart Fund to help pay for medical expenses.
