OMAHA, Neb. Sgt. 1st Class John Fairbanks is an accessions career counselor for the Army Reserve, a competitive cyclist –and a heart transplant recipient. Fairbanks was attacked in April 2005 by a very severe heart attack called the Widow Maker.

This type of heart attack occurs when a critical artery that feeds blood to the heart becomes blocked. Doctors were unable to explain why the heart attack struck Fairbanks. He did not have a family history of heart disease, had good cholesterol and had a healthy heart rate.

I had a physical with the Army four days before I had my heart attack. The doctor said I wish I was in as good a shape as you. Maybe his saying that was bad luck, joked Fairbanks.

This health problem for Fairbanks was like biking up an extreme hill, but he was determined to take the hill. Being a Soldier with a Warrior Ethos, Fairbanks wasn 't going to accept defeat or quit.

The prognosis for Fairbanks was nothing short of a heart transplant. On Aug. 5, 2005, Fairbanks received a heart.

This is when my second life began, said Fairbanks.

Fairbanks then had another steep incline he needed to pedal hard to overcome. He was non-deployable because of the medication he was taking to prevent his body from rejecting his new heart, and the Army wanted him to go before a Physical Evaluation Board to see if he was fit for duty. To his dismay, he initially was to be medically retired.

I love being a Soldier, said Fairbanks. As a senior non-commissioned officer, I love working with troops. I love mentoring younger people, said Fairbanks.

Fairbanks appealed the PEB retirement decision and was eventually categorized fit for duty. Just days before Fairbanks was to retire, the Army reversed the decision and allowed him to continue serving.

It was kind of a surreal experience. So I guess when I finally do retire, it will be my second time retiring.

Fairbanks now is raising donor awareness on his own time and money by escaping from Alcatraz.

In June, Fairbanks participated in the 2008 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. Fairbanks was one of 12 transplant recipients and World Transplant relay team members representing The Bill Wohl Foundation for transplant and donor awareness. The team members wear green wrist bands inscribed with Donate Life to bring attention to donor awareness.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site, the number of people needing a life-saving transplant continues to rise with an inadequate amount of donors to cover the demand. Each month, approximately 300 new candidates needing a transplant are added to the waiting list.

Fairbanks, on World Transplant Team 1, completed 18 miles under an hour and ten minutes.

Fairbanks uses his experience to inspire and mentor other Soldiers. He doesn 't pour his heart out to every Soldier about his experience, but when Soldiers want to quit, Fairbanks will share his ordeal to motivate Soldiers to overcome their own adversity.

He tells Soldiers, I had a heart attack once. My heart couldn 't pump enough blood to my other organs. I was in heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure and so on . . . all at the same time. My determination not to quit and the love and support of friends and family led me to conquer my problems. The Black Widow should have killed me. And if I can overcome this, you can overcome anything.

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