By Houston City Beat Staff
In the world of organ transplantation, there is a term for the Fourth of July weekend: “Harvest Weekend.” For most, it’s a time for fireworks and barbecues. For Adam Greer, it was the weekend he received the call that would end a seventeen-year wait for a second chance at life.
On a recent episode of Houston City Beat Live, host Mike Acosta sat down with Greer—an entrepreneur, author, and Community Connector—to discuss his new book, July 5: The Day I Live Twice. The memoir details a journey that began with a simple cold in 2005 and culminated in a life-saving heart transplant on July 5, 2022.
The Invisible Enemy
Greer’s story is a sobering reminder of how quickly “invincible” health can vanish. At age 40, Greer ignored a lingering case of bronchitis, attempting to “rub grass on it” and keep moving. By the time he went to the ER, the virus had settled in his heart, leading to viral cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.
“They told me I wouldn’t go home without a heart,” Greer recalled. “I’d either go home in a bag or with a heart.”
While doctors were able to stabilize him for seventeen years, the clock eventually ran out. By early 2022, his body was failing. He had already survived a harrowing 2019 car wreck where he was revived by a defibrillator after passing out behind the wheel.
The Day He Lived Twice
The title of Greer’s book refers to the unique, terrifying finality of a heart transplant. Unlike other organ transplants where a patient can remain on life support if a donor organ fails during prep, the heart is all-or-nothing.
“When they cut that last artery, that’s it,” Greer said. “You’ve got to live or you’re done.”
Greer described the emotional weight of saying goodbye to his family on the night of July 4th, unsure if he would ever see them again. When he woke up 40 hours later, his first thought wasn’t relief—it was confusion. “I thought it didn’t happen. I was disappointed… then they told me, ‘Dad, it happened. You got your heart.'”
Living Life 2.0
Now, 1,372 days into his new life (he keeps an exact count), Greer views the world through a lens of “awe.” Since his transplant, he has seen a new grandchild born and is preparing to walk his daughter down the aisle this weekend—milestones that were mathematically impossible without a donor.
As National Donate Life Month continues through April, Greer is using his platform to urge Houstonians to consider the impact of organ donation. There are currently over 100,000 people on the national waitlist.
“We’ve lost the awe factor in life,” Greer told Acosta. “I want to make sure we all remember to take a moment to be in awe. Every day brings a whole new pile of opportunities.”
Meet the Author
Adam Greer will be appearing at the Houston CityBeat Community Connectors meeting to share his story and sign copies of July 5: The Day I Live Twice.
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When: Thursday, April 16 at 5:15 PM
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Where: The Met Athletic Club, 340 West Dallas, Downtown Houston
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More Info: Books are available on Amazon under the author name W. Adam Greer.
