Double the Heart: Two Couples, One Heartfelt Journey

Life often presents us with challenges and trials, yet sometimes, amid the chaos, God creates something beautiful from our pain. This was the case for Angel Goodrich and Kristi Darbonne, two women whose lives intertwined during a time of struggle and hope when their husbands underwent heart transplants at Houston Methodist in October 2024. Bonded by the outreach of the Local Heart Foundation, they cultivated a deep and unwavering friendship as they navigated the emotional landscape of their husbands’ recovery journeys. Kristi expressed her connection with Angel, saying, “It was like finding a soulmate,” while Angel echoed her sentiments, sharing, “It felt like we had known each other forever.” Their path to one another was paved with hardship and resilience.

Kristi’s husband, Casey, faced heart complications from birth, battling a congenital defect known as Tetralogy of Fallot. He endured a heart attack at just six weeks old and underwent corrective surgery at 18 months. Although told he could lead a normal life, he was warned he would eventually require a heart transplant. In 2019, while enjoying a day in Kemah, Casey collapsed and was rushed to Houston Methodist. A pacemaker was installed, with doctors warning that a defibrillator would soon be necessary.

On December 30, 2022, while resting without his CPAP machine, Casey suffered a seizure due to atrial fibrillation, coding before being transported from Lake Charles Memorial to Houston Methodist. There, he received a defibrillator and was placed on the transplant list, a process that can often take years. Doctors candidly told him, “Cats have nine lives. You’re on your last life.” During this harrowing time, Kristi and Casey found solace and support from the Local Heart Foundation, with Kristi declaring, “They’re the greatest group of people I’ve ever met in my life.”

Then came October 4, 2024. Kristi and Casey received a call from the transplant team, asking them to arrive at Houston Methodist by 7 p.m. for Casey’s surgery, which took place on October 6. Two days later, Stacie Adams with the Local Heart Foundation reached out to Kristi, inquiring if they could connect her with another couple from Lake Charles facing a similar journey at the same hospital.

Enter Angel and her husband, James. In 2019, James suffered a severe heart attack at the age of 46, prompting doctors to prepare Angel for the worst. Miraculously, just two weeks later, James was discharged, but follow-up visits revealed his heart was severely damaged and he needed a transplant., Angel was told it could take up to four years for a suitable match. When James was admitted to Houston Methodist in September 2024, it became clear that he could not return home without a transplant. The Local Heart Foundation stepped in to help Angel manage their household while supporting her husband.

Upon their introduction through the Local Heart Foundation, Kristi and Angel began exchanging messages, yet their first in-person encounter took place in the waiting room on October 11, just before James’s surgery. Kristi offered emotional support and insight into what to expect post-surgery. Once both men emerged from the ICU, they found themselves just a few doors apart, allowing the couples to lean on one another as they walked the halls and shared meals together. In those moments, Kristi found solace in having “another spouse from home who knows exactly what I’m going through.” Meanwhile, Angel reflected, “When I was in my weak moment, she was strong. When she was in her weak moment, I was strong.”

As Casey and James continue their paths to recovery, Kristi and Angel are fortified by the unwavering support of each other and the local community. Their journey highlights the compassion and dedication of the Local Heart Foundation, which facilitated the connection between these two families during such a critical moment in their lives. By supporting the Local Heart Foundation, you strengthen the bonds within our community, ensuring that no one faces their hardships in isolation. Angel and Kristi’s journey is a reminder that in the face of adversity, love and friendship can light the way, transforming pain into a shared experience of hope and healing.

Pictured above on left: Casey & Kristi Darbonne

Middle top: L-R: Casey & Kristi Darbonne, James & Angel Goodrich with Stacie Adams, Executive Director, Local Heart Foundation

Middle bottom: L-R: Angel Goodrich, Stacie Adams, Executive Director, Local Heart Foundation, and Kristi Darbonne

Right: James & Angel Goodrich