Corbin Levesque, the QB coach for Battle Ground High School’s football team, recently received a heart transplant at the age of 23.
Levesque, who underwent the transplant on March 24, said it’s been a life-changing experience.
“I went from working every day and doing football to all of a sudden having to just stop,” Levesque said. “Other than that, it’s almost relieving, knowing that in a year, I’ll be able to get back to everything.”
The football coach needed the transplant because he had leukemia when he was 6 years old.
“The chemo they gave me affected my heart, but it took a drastic nosedive back in November, and my heart was just done,” Levesque said.
Levesque had to come to terms with the surgery and the danger it entailed, as he said “there’s a chance of not making it.” The transplant resulted in him having a weaker immune system, but through some diet and medication changes, he expects to be “back to normal” in about a year’s time. He plans to take on coaching again once he recovers.
Levesque has been passing the time since the transplant surrounded by his family and discussing football with his fellow coaches.
Because of his young age, there isn’t a lot of data on the potential long-term effects he may have following the surgery, he said.
“The typical statistics I’ve seen is that 80% of the time, you’ll last 10 years, and after that it’s very unsure. (For me), the next 10 years are looking really good, but moving forward, I can’t eat certain things anymore,” he said.
Levesque can’t eat pink steak, grapefruit or pomegranate, which would counteract with his medications.
“I do like my steak rare, so I’m a little down about that one, but between steak and living, it’s a pretty easy choice there,” Levesque said with a laugh.
He should be able to weight lift again after a year, which is something he hasn’t been able to do since he was 13 years old because of his heart problems.
“Honestly, it’s overall a better change,” Levesque said.
While he recovers for the next year, Levesque plans to travel. His doctors said he can do that in six months time, but also advised him to avoid large crowds in the process, which includes supermarkets and sporting events. Since his immune system has a lower response now, Levesque needs to avoid infections so his body doesn’t reject the new heart.
He plans on visiting his aunts and uncles in Texas, Virginia, California and Oregon. When he’s able, he also hopes to travel with his friend to Miami to watch a Dolphins game.
“That first year, they’re pretty touchy on what I can do,” he said.
Levesque said he’ll miss the athletes and other coaches on the football team as he recovers.
“I love them all,” Levesque said. “I know I’m very young, but they are all seriously like sons to me. I also love helping them grow into young men and I’m still going to try to be around as much as I can. I may not be able to coach, but I’ll try to stop by and say hi when I can. They’re a special group of boys and they’re going to do some amazing things one day.”
