Patient Support Program Reunites Childhood Friends

One Hike Changed Everything

While so many things in the two men’s early lives were similar, Rasmussen’s heart health history was very different compared to Wagoner’s.

“Never in my life did I think I’d need to have a heart transplant,” said Rasmussen. “But during a trip to Northern California in 2018, while on a hike with my sister, I could not catch my breath or keep up with my family at all.”

Concerned, Rasmussen went to see his primary care doctor. Additional testing and a visit to his cardiologist confirmed he had an irregular heartbeat. He was also diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis, a rare heart condition that causes excess protein, called amyloids, to build up in the heart itself. Over time, the heart can get very stiff, causing it not to beat properly, leading to heart failure.

There are more than 30 types of amyloidosis and each type requires specific tests to confirm the diagnosis. Some forms are hereditary, while others, like Rasmussen’s type of amyloidosis, are not. Symptoms of cardiac amyloidosis are similar to those of heart failure and can also include carpal tunnel syndrome, unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms, unexplained kidney disease or neuropathy.

At the time of Rasmussen’s diagnosis in early 2019, only one medication was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for slowing the progression of cardiac amyloidosis and UC San Diego Health was a site for the international clinical trial researching the new drug.

“Mr. Rasmussen was referred to me as I had recently launched a new Cardiac Amyloidosis Program at UC San Diego Health, and our team was working toward offering our patients access to therapies recently approved for this condition,” said Marcus Urey, MD, cardiologist and director of the cardiac amyloidosis and heart transplant programs at UC San Diego Health.

According to Urey, there is no cure for cardiac amyloidosis and some patients will need a heart transplant, especially if they are diagnosed with late-stage, advanced disease.

Rasmussen remained on treatment until his symptoms became progressively worse. He was added to the organ waitlist for a heart transplant when he unexpectedly fainted while going on a walk in his neighborhood.

“Fainting can be an indicator of advanced disease for patients with cardiac amyloidosis and when that occurred, along with other signs that his health was declining, we recommended that Mr. Rasmussen consider heart transplant surgery,” said Urey.

Rasmussen received his new heart at UC San Diego Health in July 2019. To prepare, he joined the heart transplant support group and never stopped going. Three years later, he was contacted by another support group member, Wagoner.

An Unexpected School Reunion

“After a few years of meeting virtually, our support group gathered in person in December 2024, and it was so nice to see all these people who got each other through some really challenging times,” said Rasmussen. “It was so much fun to sit and talk with people we felt like we had known forever, and that is when I met Bob officially in person.”

“When we met in person, that’s when we made the realization of our paths crossing so many years ago,” added Wagoner.