COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Last week, Ohio State basketball player Evan Mahaffey’s father was waiting for a heart transplant. The key word is “was” as Jamie Mahaffey has undergone the operation and is on the road to recovery.
“The whole thing with his heart’s been going on for a while,” said Evan. “So I think I’ve been playing with this since the beginning. Was like since the season started.”
The Ohio State guard is in his first season with the Buckeyes but remains close to home in Cincinnati. The short drive up I-71 made Evan’s dad a regular for games early this season until last weekend when just Evan’s mom Robyn was there.
Jamie was first diagnosed with heart disease in 2012 while serving as the head coach at North College Hill High School. As the coach, he won three state championships and coaches two future NBA players — O.J. Mayo and Bill Walker. In December, he became a candidate for a new heart and was clear to get the operation.
Jamie’s daughter Danielle, who is currently in Cincinnati, said that her dad is improving and that he is getting stronger with his new heart and is responding to comments.
His heart transplant was performed at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where he will remain hospitalized for two more weeks to recover. After he is released from the hospital, he will stay in Nashville for six to eight weeks before returning home to Cincinnati.
Danielle said she, Evan, and their younger brother Eric will make a trip down to Nashville to see their dad and cannot wait to make the trip.
A GoFundMe has been created to support the Mahaffey family during this time as they balance medical bills and travel. “My mom and dad being in Nashville for those six to eight weeks and like us being here [Cincinnati] kind of switching to household and medical bills. Anything would help,” said Danielle.