New heart gives Iowan reason to cheer

Omaha World Herald | Tim Johnson

Photo: Gene Moniz of Oakland, Iowa, enjoys opening his eyes each morning since his heart transplant last year. He is pictured with his wife, Betsy.

OAKLAND, Iowa — An Oakland man is finding that an organ that spent its first 32 years in someone else’s body agrees with him.

Gene Moniz, 65, underwent a heart transplant on June 13, 2011, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. The new heart has given him a new lease on life.

“This is the first spring when I can actually get out and do something and breathe,” he said. “Am I enjoying it? You bet I am!

“I’m enjoying opening my eyes in the morning, to tell you the truth. I’ve been cutting down trees, planting trees — things I couldn’t have imagined doing a year ago.”

Moniz had pretty much worn out his ticker.

“In May 2003, I had three heart attacks in four days, and then in August 2005 I had another one,” he said.

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20120521/NEWS01/705219946