Portage Heart Transplant Recipient Home for The Holidays

Spencer Powell is home for the holidays after 13 hours of surgery, receiving his new heart and a lengthy recovery period.

Spencer told WWMT,

"I remember going into the operating room. They were just asking me all kinds of questions like what car I wanted. I just remember telling them not to let me die, like 5 times"

Once doctors were comfortable enough with his progress to send him home, friends, family and Portage fire and police gathered to welcome him.

Despite this victory Spencer is still not in the clear. He takes a combination of 40 pills a day to prevent his body from rejecting his donor heart.  Spencer says he is looking forward to heading back to school and eventually buying a new car.