Gary Donovan was born in 1963 with half a heart and one kidney and wasn’t expected to line more than two days. He spent the first 8 months of his life in an incubator and his teen years having his blood cleansed once a month using a process like dialysis.
At the age of 22, Gary underwent open heart surgery, having a middle wall built in his heart creating 4 chambers instead of the two he was born with. This was only the 6th time this surgery had been performed in the US.
Gary received his first pacemaker in 1988, his second pacemaker/ defibrillator in 2002 and a third in Dec. 2014. On Feb 21st, 2016, Gary developed an infection in the pocket of his pacemaker and it was decided that the pacemaker and all old leads needed to be removed.
After two weeks in the hospital and three delicate heart operations, Gary suffered a massive stroke that sadly left him brain dead. He passed away on March 4th, 2016.
Despite life’s setbacks, Gary never gave up. He was medical miracle full of life and love and lived every day to its fullest knowing each day was borrowed time. Gary was extremely proud of being 100% Irish and growing up in Boston, he was a Patriots fan! Gary enjoyed the company of his companion dog Fiona, and spent time writing songs and playing guitar in a rock band with his loving wife, Michele.
Gary will live forever in the hearts of those who knew him; an Irish Angel lovingly watching over us, with an Irish sense of humor! Cheers!