Life After Transplant: Paul’s Two Months in Europe
A year before Paul Chiren set foot in Europe, he wasn’t dreaming of castles or mountain roads. He wasn’t imagining long walks through old cities or exploring sandstone tunnels beneath the Netherlands. At 60, he wasn’t even sure he would live long enough to travel again.
Paul’s heart story began back in 2005, when a sudden case of viral cardiomyopathy nearly ended his life. With diet, exercise, and a new cardiologist’s hope, he pushed forward for nearly two decades. But in 2024, everything changed. His strength faded, hospitalizations increased, and by early 2025 his heart could no longer support his organs. Dialysis began. Dangerous heart rhythms followed. He was transferred to Banner UMC Phoenix, placed on continuous dialysis, supported by an Impella pump and then ECMO. Born with one kidney, he now needed both a heart and kidney transplant to survive.
After two false runs, on April 29, 2025, Paul received a new heart. Six hours later, he received a new kidney.
Recovery brought new routines and new community. Paul joined the Banner UMC Phoenix weekly heart transplant support group, finding connection with people who understood the long road back. Slowly, he regained strength. And by June 2026, he was planning something that once felt impossible, two months in Europe.
He prepared carefully. He researched transplant hospitals along his route, learned the names of his medications in multiple languages, carried prescriptions, and arranged for lab work at Bioscientia in Ingelheim, Germany. He and his wife, Ute, chose places with refrigerators and microwaves and checked restaurant menus ahead of time to stay within his dietary guidelines. With approval from his transplant team and a lot of planning, Paul felt ready.
Their adventure began with their grandson joining them as a graduation gift. From their home base in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, Paul and Ute walked miles each day, exploring castles along the Mosel River, wandering through Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Bavarian Forest. They traveled by RV, visited Austria and the Czech Republic, and continued north through Denmark, Sweden, and Norway before returning to Germany to finish their trip with family.
What mattered most wasn’t the list of places, it was what Paul’s body could do. Just a year earlier, he had been in an ICU, sustained by machines. Now he was climbing through forests, strolling through villages, and walking miles across Europe.
Paul’s advice to other transplant recipients is simple: prepare well. Know your medications and what they’re called abroad. Research pharmacies and transplant hospitals. Carry prescriptions and medical information. Plan for food safety. And always talk with your transplant team before traveling.
Not every transplant recipient will be ready for international travel after a year, but Paul’s story shows what life can look like after transplant. Today, he’s back home, woodworking, tackling projects, and enjoying the everyday moments he nearly lost.
Transplant gave Paul more time. He’s making the most of it.
