Father-of-seven misses heart transplant chance after flight canceled by blizzard

Patrick Holland, 56, whose heart was weakened by a massive heart attack aged 20, has been told he had eight hours to rush to Seattle for a transplant - but the freezing blizzard hitting the United States prevented him from arriving in time

Patrick Holland and his brother sitting on a plane from Fairview to Anchorage, when he thought he could still get to Washington in time

A father of seven who desperately needed a new heart has been devastated after his flight was canceled due to the historic winter storm that hit the United States this month.

Patrick Holland, 56, was given an eight-hour window to fly from Alaska to Seattle so he could arrive in time for a critical heart transplant.

But tragically, his Alaska Airlines flight was canceled due to the blizzard.

On December 22, Washington Medical Center contacted the father of seven to let him know he was next to have the surgery.

After the call, Patrick rushed to an airport in Fairbanks, Alaska, hoping to catch the overnight flight to Seattle.

The heart transplant offer came just two and a half weeks after he was put on the registry and caught the family off guard, his wife said (

Picture:

bigheartpatrickholland/Facebook)

Speaking to CNN, Patrick explained, "It was terrifying news to hear that I was going to have a transplant, to be honest with you. I was terrified.

"And then I was excited."

When he arrived at the counter, he was told that the night flight had been canceled and that he could not make the slot.

After becoming aware of his situation, airline personnel managed to secure him a seat on another plane.

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