David Chase, 65, has one functioning artery for his heart.  Since May of last year, Chase has been on the national heart transplant waiting list.  His healthy diet and a lifetime of exercise, however, have an unintended consequence—he looks too healthy to receive a heart.  But after a triple bypass surgery and a second operation to save the last artery he has, there is little else that can be done to his heart but wait for a new one.

David squirrel-hunting with his father.

Chase must live within two hours of the heart center in Spokane, which he is pushing by living in Waitsburg.  He has signed on with an air ambulance transport service that can airlift him to Spokane.  Fog, however, could delay flights or slow driving on the road.

The student activities director of Walla Walla Community College, Chase manages club budgets, works with student government and fields challenges in pool and ping-pong by students.  No one has beaten him consistently yet.  A natural athlete, Chase holds a doctorate degree in physical education.

David's high school senior portrait