July 14, 2022 – When Clay Yates took the ceremonial first shot at the Memorial Health Championship on Thursday morning, July 14, the former college golfer was only one month away from a significant anniversary – one that gave him a second chance at life.
Yates, 34, is a heart transplant recipient. He received his new heart almost three years ago on August 30, 2019, during a 10-hour procedure at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
The local real estate agent had always been healthy and active, but he noticed some shortness of breath while he was on vacation in Colorado with his family in 2019; he attributed it to the elevation. When the shortness of breath persisted when he returned home to central Illinois, he went to a Memorial Care urgent care facility, where a nurse practitioner ordered a CT scan to be completed at Springfield Memorial Hospital.
Yates was on his way to show a house when the hospital called. The scan showed Yates had an enlarged heart, and his lungs were taking in fluid. The caller insisted that Yates go to the emergency room right away.
Yates was admitted with a diagnosis of heart failure. He was eventually transferred to Barnes-Jewish Hospital, where doctors unsuccessfully tried a series of medication to improve his heart function.
He was placed on the transplant list on August 26, 2019 – a Monday. He was near the top of the list based on the severity of his condition. By Friday, he underwent the procedure to receive his new heart.
