SEATTLE, Wash. – Thousands of travelers have seen their plans upended this week with either weather issues or Southwest cancellations.
Among them was an Alaska man hoping to get a new heart in Seattle.
KING 5 reports that 56-year-old Patrick Holland suffers from congestive heart failure and has been on an active transplant list for several weeks.
Last Thursday, December 22nd, Holland got a call from the University of Washington Heart Institute saying a heart was available and that he needed to fly down to Seattle within 8 hours.
Holland found out his overnight flight was cancelled at the Fairbanks Airport, but agents were able to get him on another plane.
That plane was forced to land in Anchorage due to icy conditions at SeaTac.
Ultimately, Holland missed the window to get his much-needed transplant and the heart went to someone else.
A GoFundMe has been set up for Holland’s housing when the next heart becomes available.