Man has lost four brothers to rare heart disease
By Heather Jordan
The Saginaw News
SAGINAW, Mich. (AP) — Fifteen years ago, after losing all four of his brothers to a rare heart disease, Saginaw native Ernie Balcueva underwent a heart transplant.
It saved his life.
Now, he needs another one.
Balcueva, who now lives in Oakland County’s Sylvan Lake, became ill earlier this year. Transplanted hearts only last so long, and Balcueva’s body is rejecting his, his cousin and Saginaw Township resident Sarah Balcueva told The Saginaw News.
For the last several months, Ernie Balcueva and his parents, Edgar and Mary Jane Balcueva, have been at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. That’s where Ernie Balcueva must stay until he is matched to a heart donor, she said.
“This is his only option to continue on with his life,” Sarah Balcueva said of the second heart transplant her cousin needs.
Ernie Balcueva, a 45-year-old father of two, has health insurance, but his family says it’s not nearly enough to cover the cost of the transplant, recovery and other related expenses.
Sarah Balcueva said the situation is difficult for everyone, including her nephews Ernie Balcueva II, 16, and Randy Balcueva, 11.
“It’s been hard on both of them. It’s not an easy situation. They know their dad is really sick,” she said.
“I just really look up to my cousin. When his boys call him and they’re having a hard time, he’s always really positive and strong for them.”
Ernie Balcueva, a 1987 Arthur Hill High School graduate, has battled heart complications since he was a child.
Cardiac apoptosis is a disease that causes the heart to go into an irregular rhythm that cannot be reversed. The condition eventually becomes fatal, Sarah Balcueva explained.
Ernie’s brothers Eddie, Randy, Rick and Brad Balcueva all died of the disease before the age of 34. One of them died at age 12.
“The pathologist who discovered it could only find 10 known cases of it, and we were five of them,” Ernie Balcueva said.
Many in the Saginaw community are familiar with the Balcueva family and its plight.
Ernie Balcueva’s father and his uncle who shares his name both are doctors. His father, now retired, practiced in Saginaw for more than 40 years. His uncle Ernie Balcueva is an oncologist who has practiced in the Saginaw area for more than 35 years.
When the younger Ernie Balcueva needed his first heart transplant, family, friends and community members rallied around him in support.
To help get Ernie Balcueva through this ordeal and back home to his sons, his family and friends are telling his story and asking the community once again for help.
A spaghetti dinner and silent auction are planned to raise money. The event takes place from Nov. 16 at the Hunger Solution Center in Saginaw.
Tickets are for sale in advance at St. Stephen Parish Office in Saginaw and SS Peter & Paul Parish Office in Saginaw Township.
There is a suggested donation of $10 per person, or $5 for children 10 years old and younger.
His family and friends, calling themselves “Team Balcueva,” are asking area businesses, groups and residents for donations of any size.
Monetary donations can be made to “Have a Heart for Ernie 2” at United Financial Credit Union in Saginaw Township.
In addition, following is a list of items needed for the auction:
— Gift cards/certificates
— Retail items
— Event tickets
— Gift baskets
All event proceeds are to benefit Ernie Balcueva.
The community helped him through a similar fundraiser the first time he needed a transplant, Sarah Balcueva recalled.
“We appreciate any donation you can provide to help Ernie,” reads a letter signed Team Balcueva. “Whether it is attending the spaghetti dinner, providing any of the items needed for the event, or a monetary donation, we thank you in advance.”
“He’s going to need not only financial support, but just support in general,” Sarah Balcueva added.
Meanwhile, Ernie Balcueva waits at Mayo Clinic to be matched to a donor.
“Right now I’m Status 1A, which is highest priority,” he said.
There’s no telling how long he’ll have to wait. Though he’s at the top of the list, his doctors say about 17 percent of hearts would be a match for him.
“The number of donors doesn’t match the number of people that need an organ donation, which is a major problem and why I want to get the word out,” he said.
Ernie Balcueva said being able to laugh helps him cope.
“Just a good sense of humor,” he said. “When I was in the hospital with my brother Rick, we would constantly be joking back and forth about things. Out here, especially, I’ve made friends with a lot of the nurses, a lot of the staff.”
