Tiffin native celebrating 35th anniversary of heart transplant

TIFFIN — Tiffin native Ryan Zinn is celebrating 35 years since a heart transplant saved his life – and as one of the longest-lived heart transplant recipients in history. While the average life span of a heart transplant patient is 10 years, Zinn has surpassed that mark by 25 years – and counting. While he said there are no official records kept for the public on heart transplant longevity, his research indicates he's in the top 10. "I may be in the single digits," he said. "At least in North America." In this case, Zinn said he isn't competing for the top spot. He hopes all of the people living after a transplant are living long and healthy lives as he is. In addition to the heart anniversary, Zinn said this year has had two more milestones. He turned 50 in May and he and his wife, Marie, celebrated their 10th anniversary earlier this month. Being competitive by nature, Zinn said his earlier life was focused on physical fitness and sports competition. That took a back seat eight years ago when his daughter, Sylvia Rose James Zinn, was born. Her second middle name is in honor of "James," the donor who gave him a heart and a chance to live his life. "She's here because of James," he said. When fatherhood took over, priorities changed. "I've been working on my dad bod as best I can – to create it and then try to lose it," he said. "The gym moved down a few notches." However, he still competes every other year in the U.S. Transplant Games, and he's looking forward to visiting Birmingham, Alabama, next summer. "I've set a personal goal to get myself back in shape," he said. He has competed nationally and internationally since 1992. "It's been wonderful because now I get to do it with the family in tow," he said. His parents, Roy and Barbara Zinn of Tiffin, have traveled with him many times. "It's been so wonderful to experience it through the eyes of a now 8-year-old and as a family unit in addition to me and my parents," he said. Zinn savors every second of life. "To me, it brings yet another layer of value and importance to what we do when we talk about organ and tissue donation," he said. "When I can clearly point to my daughter and touch my daughter as I'm having a conversation." Encouraging donor registration As he looks to the future, Zinn said he's learned to balance long-term goals with valuing each moment as it happens. "I plan for tomorrow, but value today," he said. "It isn't always easy." He said he had "stretch goals" – those that require growth to reach – as well as intermediate goals. "And then I want to know what I'm going to do today, tomorrow and the next day," he said. Zinn said he doesn't consider himself a motivational speaker, but he speaks on the topic as often as he can. "Never hesitate to ask," he said. "As long as I'm available, I'll say yes because it's worth doing. "If there's one person in the audience, reads an article, sees a TV news segment, whatever, who says I'm going to change my mind and become a donor, it's worth it," he said. "No matter what, I'm always going to talk about the importance and value," he said. "I would not be here if not for that." He encourages anyone who isn't a registered donor to make a decision. "Think about your own decision, and most importantly, talk to your family," he said. "That's the most important thing we can communicate to people." Then register when renewing a driver's license or register directly by visiting https://lifelineofohio.org/register-as-a-donor. If a life is lost, the family then knows what to do. "It's a mixed blessing," he said. "We've lost our loved one, but their spirit continues. They've saved and impacted other lives. "There's a bit of sunshine poking through those clouds," he said. Zinn's story The parents of James had to make that decision in September 1988. Their 20-year-old son had been killed in an auto accident. But Zinn's story starts a year earlier when, at age 14, he was diagnosed with a form of cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle that causes it to swell and hampers its ability to pump blood. He was a young athlete at the time, playing football and other sports at Mohawk schools. Zinn said doctors at the Cleveland Clinic gave his parents two options – a heart transplant or medication. "We took the medication," he said. "That transplant idea was just too scary." Although his active lifestyle ended, Zinn focused on his schoolwork with the help of a tutor and had adjusted to his "new normal." But during the summer of his 15th year, his life changed again. "I woke up one morning and looked in the mirror and I was yellow," he said. "I had damage to my liver from the medications." Medications were adjusted, and then one Sunday in early September, he said he was working on homework when his arm started flying around in the air of its own accord. He yelled for his mother. He was having a stroke. This time the Cleveland Clinic doctors gave the family two choices again – get on the transplant list or prepare to die within six months. Zinn said his heart damage was severe, but he was otherwise healthy and a good transplant candidate. "By the grace of God, 17 days later, we got a call," he said. James' was killed in a car accident and his family had agreed to donate his heart. Dr. Robert Stewart performed the transplant on Sept. 26, 1988. Soon thereafter, Zinn returned to Mohawk High School, and six months later, he ran in his first track meet since the transplant. He came in last place, but that didn't matter. "I was scared. Everyone in the stands was scared. My coach was scared," he said. "But I did it. "I just kept setting more goals," he said. "My parents never tried to wrap me in bubble wrap. They wanted me to live my life." Zinn focused on golf because it was less strenuous than other sports. "It was a good feeling to be competitive at anything again," he said. He also ran track, and his 4x100 relay team broke a school record in 1991, his senior year. "The week after that, I gave the valedictorian speech at graduation," he said. "Two goals met. All because of James." Zinn went to Ohio State to continue his education, graduating with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, and master's degrees in industrial engineering and human resources management. He's in his 21st year working at Ohio State in technology commercialization. In his job, he assists Ohio State researchers and inventors. "I help to assess the invention, determine if we have the potential to patent and then license the technology to companies or even start up a company so the inventions can be made into a product or service to benefit society," he said. "I get to work with world-class researchers." James' legacy "I was blessed with a great match," Zinn said. He focuses on maintaining optimal health, and he takes medication every morning and every evening. Although he tried to get in contact with them a few times over the years, Zinn has never met James' family. He said that was their choice. Instead, he became active in the lives of other donor families and people who receive organs. He began volunteering in northwest Ohio through Life Connection, Toledo, while he was in high school, and he continued volunteering when he moved to Ohio State. In January 2022, he was asked to join the board of directors of Lifeline of Ohio, Columbus, after serving many years on an advisory board. And he tells his story as often as possible. "That's why we tell our stories," Zinn said. "It's because of James that I'm living a life."