At around 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 27, the phone rang in the Richards’ household on Education Hill.

The number came up as blocked on the caller ID, so no one answered. Moments later, cell phones began ringing, but the numbers were still blocked so again, no one answered.

And then a pager in the house began beeping.

“We all sort of freaked out,” said Janet Richards about their reaction to the sound.

This was because that pager going off meant something life changing could possibly happen. It meant there was the possibility that Richards’ son, Jason Richards, would receive a new heart.

And indeed, the family learned that a possible donor had been found and Jason needed to get to Seattle Children’s Hospital as soon as possible.

Richards said they arrived at 9 p.m. and at 10 p.m., doctors began running tests to make sure Jason’s blood wouldn’t react negatively when he received his new heart. The results came in early the next morning at 4 a.m., showing things were good to go and Jason’s heart transplant surgery was scheduled for 6 a.m. on Nov. 28.

A LONG TIME COMING

Jason was born with Holt-Oram syndrome, a disorder that affects bones in the arms and hands. In addition, it may cause heart problems, and in Jason, this resulted in a number of heart defects, which he has had since he was born.

According to earlier reports, he had his first heart surgery when he was seven days old and underwent three more procedures before he turned 4. The procedures rerouted his blood vessels so oxygen could be delivered throughout his body and were meant to last 20 to 25 years. At that point, Jason would need a new heart.

But in April 2010, when Jason was 10 years old, his heart began to give out on him and eventually, he went into cardiac arrest in the middle of a cardiac catheterization procedure. Jason also had a few strokes that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body.

All of this has sped up the process and Jason’s need for a new heart.

Despite how badly he needed the new heart, Richards said her son wasn’t sure about going through with the procedure.

“He was scared and he wasn’t sure if he was ready,” she said.

Richards said they helped Jason push past that fear by praying. She said a pastor from their church, the Redmond Assembly of God, came to the hospital, as well, to help Jason through the scary time.

“We rely a lot on our faith,” Richards said.

She said Jason, who turns 12 in March, memorized a scripture before the surgery and although he was still nervous, he was able to get some sleep before the surgery.

A BITTERSWEET SITUATION

While a new heart for Jason is great news, it does come with a price.

“You realize on the night you’re happy, somebody else just lost their child,” Richards said. “It’s hard to be totally thrilled…it’s not a win-win (situation).”

Richards said they don’t know who the donor family is but she suspects they are local because once a heart is harvested, the transplant surgery must be performed within six hours. If the heart had to be flown in from outside the immediate area, they wouldn’t have had the time to run the blood tests.

Richards said their situation was extremely unusual because in most cases, doctors are working against the clock and things would go much faster.

When asked if they would eventually want to meet the donor family, Richards said they would.

“Obviously, it’s up to them, too,” she said. “I would just give them a huge hug and say, ‘Thank you.'”

She said there isn’t anything she could say to make up for their loss, but she could offer comfort in that a part of their family member lives on in her son.

“I don’t know if there are any words to say,” Richards said about meeting the donor family. “I’m sure we’d shed a lot of tears.”

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

She said their family is also grateful to the Redmond Police Department, who has worked with Jason through the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission’s (WSCJTC) “Chief for a Day” program, which honors children who have been diagnosed with a chronic illness with the opportunity to be chief or sheriff — usually of their local police agency — for an entire day.

Richards said they have also received a lot of support from their church and the Lake Washington School District. Jason attended Horace Mann Elementary School and now attends Redmond Middle School and Richards said everyone at both schools have been very helpful.

Richards said all of this support has been especially meaningful because they didn’t grow up here and they did not expect to be welcomed with such open arms.

ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

Jason’s surgery lasted 15 hours and he didn’t get out until 9 p.m. Richards said this was because in addition to the transplant, doctors had to go in and do some blood vessel repair work because his veins and arteries were not large enough to support the new heart on a long-term basis.

Because of the extended surgery time, Richards said Jason has had some post-surgery problems on the right side of his heart. She said that side is not squeezing as hard as it needs to pump blood throughout Jason’s body, but doctors think he’ll recover. Jason, who is currently in the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) is also doing deep-breathing exercises for his lungs. But these issues are minor compared to what Jason has faced up to this point — especially since Jason has never reached 100 percent oxygen saturation before this.

“It’s amazing to see pink toes and pink lips,” Richards said, adding that her son’s toes and lips have always been blue in the past.