1st Place Newswriting II
Story published in the Daily Iowan, print and online
Stephanie Yoder
Mid-Prairie HS, Kalona, Iowa

A Hope Worth Waiting For

Life can be taken for granted so easily, but teenager Nick Wagner does anything but that as he waits day-by-day for one important thing…a new heart.

Bright posters, photos of long time friends and IV polls line the 17-year-old’s hospital room, the place he currently calls home while others call the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.  Ironically, Nick is only a little distance from his real Iowa City home.

Nick looks at his health challenges as a life lesson.

“It taught me not to take life for granted,” he said.  His face as he talked looked washed out from the tiredness of this long journey.

Nick has fought heart problems since birth.  At age six he had his first heart transplant and cine then five different surgeries to help him live.  But when he started experiencing unusual symptoms earlier this year he came back to the University of Iowa Hospital to find out he was having heart failure.

“It can be stressful and scary…the doctors say we might be here waiting for another six months to a year,” said Nick’s mother as she sat by her son’s bed Wednesday afternoon.

Parents Phillis and Ellis Wagner have supported Nick through everything he’s been through.  Ellis is currently unemployed since her days are now devoted to being with her son.  “It’s important for me to be here and help him through this difficult time,” she said.

Although they have to struggle with Nick’s difficult situation, the family finds comfort by knowing they are in Gods hands since they are no longer strangers to this hospital and the dedicated staff.  They have considered them like family for the past 17 years.

During Nick’s hospital stay, he likes to spend his free time watching movies, being online and playing on his PS 2.  But like any average teenager, he has schoolwork to do so Nick also spends time studying with his personal tutor.  This computer wiz also has future dreams of marrying and attending college for business.

Although Nick has devoted and caring doctors, family and friends behind him he also feels that being “normal” has never been on this agenda.

“I can’t really do what I want now since I have to be here in the hospital…I feel like I miss out on normal teen stuff,” he said.  “It’s pretty much changed my whole life.”

As if his life isn’t full enough, the inspirational teen was also a participant in the American Heart Association Walk this year and raised an overwhelming amount of money for the charity.  Nick and his team worked to raise $3,500 and were once again the first place winners.  But instead of worrying for himself he is one to always keep others in mind and did the walk, “because it’s for a really good cause and helps people out.”

Nick’s wait for a heart may not be over tomorrow.  And it may not be over in a year.  But he doesn’t loose hope and wants to send a message to other kids in his situation.