My name is Derek Owens. I am a CHD Warrior. I am an assistant coach for the University of Hawaii-Hilo. A basketall state champion, former NCAA athlete, business graduate, wilderness first responder, outdoor enthusiast, and just another human trying to navigate this crazy thing called life. 

My Heart Warrior Story

Hey all! I am 26 years old. I have undergone two open heart surgeries at age 16 and 23. Both surgeries performed by Dr. Sharro Raissi, who is an angel and my hero. I received a pacemaker 8 days after my second heart surgery due to complete heart block. At age 24 I was diagnosed with endocarditis an infection that attacks the heart, and continue to battle that infection daily as well. I will need to undergo a third OHS in a few years as a result of that infection. Despite all of this, I choose to not let my disease slow me down. I continue to live my life to the fullest no matter what life throws my way. You either live a genuine life or you don't. And my genuine life is one that is full of risk. So that's the one I live.

My Heart journey, from the perspective of my older brother Jake

Derek fell in love with the game of basketball at an early age. However, because he was born with a defective bicuspid aortic valve, that had the doctors thinking surgery would be necessary within his first year of life, his parents tried to steer him toward other less physical sports or activities. But Derek had a passion for basketball. He was a good shooter, had a high basketball IQ, he played with a true team mentality and possessed a strong work ethic. All traits that earned him the respect of his teammates and coaches throughout the years and led to him being voted team captain for every team he played on all the way through college. He won his first state championship as a 9 year old in the AAU on a club team. Then, as the starting point guard, he led his 8th grade team to a championship. This, the kid with the defective heart valve that kept his heart from functioning at full capacity. When Derek was a sophomore in high school, his mom asked him if he wanted to buy a class ring. His response was, "Why would I want a class ring when I'm going to get a championship ring?" Unfortunately that dream would have to be put on hold when he began having severe chest pain. He underwent examinations and two weeks later he was undergoing open heart surgery. At age 16 his life changed dramatically overnight. He was determined to not let anything stop him from doing what he loves. Two years later he went on to get that championship ring when he helped lead his McClintock High School team to the Arizona state championship in 2010. That's pretty cool in of itself, but the fact that he did it after undergoing open heart surgery at age 16 and having his doctor tell him his days of playing basketball were over, is what makes it really amazing.

His surgery was in October of his junior year in high school. He had to go travel to California to have the surgery performed by a specialist in the field, Dr. Raissi. It was a complicated and lengthy 9 hour surgery to repair the life threatening aneurysm in his aorta and to replace his failing natural valve with a bovine tissue valve. To repair the aneurysm they induced hypothermia, clamped off his aorta for nearly 20 minutes during the surgery, and stopped his heart from beating. That meant he had no blood flow and no oxygen going to his brain and organs. Thanks to the skill of Dr.Raissi, it was highly successful with no complications, but it took a major toll on his body. He missed several months of school, as well as the entire basketball season his junior year. It was a long, hard recovery, but he never complained, never gave up and he attacked his recovery with the goal of that championship still fixed firmly in his sights. A mere 6 months later he was back on the court playing his first full game. 

He faced a number of other obstacles and challenges along the way to his goal, such as having to make an appeal to the AIA board to be granted special permission to even play again, teammate challenges, ongoing physical challenges and then, when finally finding himself just two games away from that championship in his senior year, he rolled his ankle in his last home game severely spraining it and he ended up on crutches. However, he wasn't about to let a little thing like not being able to walk, keep him from achieving the goal he had sacrificed so much to achieve and had worked so hard for. Fortunately he had a week to recover before the next game. He missed every practice and went to therapy 2-3 times a day, doing anything necessary to play.  As the starting point guard for the Chargers, he played nearly every minute of the semi-final game on a swollen, black and blue ankle, racking up 24 points and even got a write up in the state newspaper (here). The day of the final game, he could still barely walk, but he stepped out onto that court and gave it all he had scoring 19 points. The fans about brought the house down as they clinched the title in a hard fought 2 point victory. The championship was theirs.

He went on to play college ball on a full ride scholarship at a two year college in Vancouver ,Washington. As the starting point guard for Clark College, he led his team in assists and minutes played, but more importantly helped lead them to one of the most successful seasons in years, ranking number one in their conference and bringing home the western regional divisional championship. He then went on to play on a full ride scholarship at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, a D2 school. Unfortunately, his replacement valve that was supposed last 15 to 20 years, suddenly started to critically fail, He once again had to have urgent life saving surgery. In the spring of his college senior year, he was flown from Hawaii to California under the supervision of Derek's hero, Dr. Raissi. His valve was successfully replaced, but his heart never returned to normal rhythm. After 8 days in the ICU, it was determined that his heart was in 100% heart block and he had to have a pacemaker implanted in his chest to help it beat. Once again, he was facing a long, tough recovery, but this time he also had to learn to live life with a pacemaker. Never one to run from a challenge, he persevered and is choosing to live life with courage and true heart. He returned to Hawaii to finish his delayed senior year and is once again back on the hardwood, but this time not as a player. He is worked as a coach and referee while he finished school. He graduated in May 2015 with a degree in business and a 3.5 GPA. 

Derek is still trying to figure out what the future holds for him, but what he does know, is that he wants to make a difference in the the lives of others. He wants to use his story, and all he has gone through, to inspire others to go after their dreams and to face whatever challenges in life they may be experiencing with courage and with heart.

I am Derek's brother, Jakob. God has blessed me with gift of being a filmmaker and it is my desire to help share and spread his story with the goal of hopefully having a positive impact on the lives of those who hear it. It has been said that the definition of a hero is someone who gives us hope and who inspires us to be the best we can be. That is what my brother has done for nearly everyone who knows him. I know he's my hero.

Very, very proud to be his brother,
Jake