MILWAUKEE — Shaun Kornusky is no stranger to Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

“It’s like my second home,” said Kornusky. “Coming back every time, every month, when I visit.” 

When he visits now for checkups, he said it’s with gratitude. Kornusky received a heart transplant last year. 

What You Need To Know

  • Shaun Kornusky was diagnosed with a hereditary cardiac condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

  • For decades, he has a had an ICD that shocked his heart to restore a normal heart rhythm

  • In 2024, at age 40, he had a heart transplant 

  • Kornusky is now an advocate for organ donation 

At 12 years old, Kornusky passed out while playing football. Doctors discovered he had a hereditary cardiac condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. 

For decades, Kornusky had an ICD, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, that shocked his heart to restore a normal heart rhythm. 

“I lost a lot of my friends,” said Kornusky. “I couldn’t be with them. I couldn’t do what they were doing, and it was a struggle. When I got into my mid-20s, I felt the physical sides of it. It wasn’t how strenuous I was getting. Shocks would come out of nowhere.” 

It was in 2024 that his team of doctors said it was time for a Kornusky to get a transplant. He was just 40 years old. 

“It didn’t take too long for me to go into a rhythm that was so lethal that I had to get transferred down here to wait for my heart,” said Kornusky.“It didn’t take too long for me to go into a rhythm that was so lethal that I had to get transferred down here to wait for my heart,” said Kornusky. “I was in and out of really bad episodes from April 14 to June 8, when I got my heart. It was a long wait, but it was worth the wait.” 

Kornusky’s condition is hereditary. He said his brother has it too.

Dr. Ravi Dhingra is part of his medical team at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin. He said this condition is common. 

“One in 500 people have that,” said Dhingra. “It’s common. Sometimes we see young patients having that and even young athletes. The first time they come to know about it is when they pass out on a basketball court or something.” 

As his son’s football coach, Kornusky advocates for his condition. He also has become an advocate for organ donation. More than 48,000 organ transplants were performed in 2024, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. 

“That’s where I pay it forward right now,” said Kornusky. “I just want to do more for everyone else.”

He’s now able to live a life he’s been waiting for, thanks to his donor. It includes his dreams of traveling and coaching his son’s football team without feeling sick. 

Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled Dr. Ravi Dhingra's last name. This error has been corrected. (April 21, 2025)

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