Former Husker assistant Barney Cotton shares story of his lifesaving heart transplant

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Barney Cotton, a former Husker football player and assistant coach, needed a lifesaving heart transplant in 2019.

Nobody ever expects to be in a hospital bed needing an organ, but right now, there are about 106,000 people in the United States doing just that. In Nebraska, about 360 people are waiting for an organ.

Cotton said it took him a few tries to finally receive a heart.

“Getting all geared up, it’s like getting your game face on, being an old coach and stuff, and all of a sudden, they cancel the game,” he said.

Doctors say if more people were donors, patients might not have to wait so long.

And they fear that the need for organ donors will grow in the future.

“Some early data suggests that we may see more in stage organ failure in the coming years, which is ultimately going to lead to an increased need for organ transplant,” said Kyle Herber, CEO of Live On Nebraska, an organ procurement organization.

Cotton has since made a connection to his donor’s family, and he’s planning on meeting them in person so they can feel their son’s heart beating strong.

“I’m thanking them, and as they’ve gotten to know me over the phone or whatever, they are thanking me,” Cotton said. “I’m saying, ‘No, you don’t thank me; I’m thanking you.’ But they are thankful that they’ve got a chance to know the man that is living with the gift of life that their family gave to me.”

Cotton is now a big supporter of Live On Nebraska.  He feels that his purpose in life is to encourage others to sign up to become donors.

Cotton said his mother chose to be a donor and was able to help burn victims, which was important to her.

“I had a sister that when she was young, she was burned over, like, 35% of her body,” he said.

This year, the Rally for Life 5K, honoring organ donors and their families, is back in person. Everyone is invited to learn more and honor and remember organ donors who saved lives.

Channel 8’s Arianna Martinez will be the emcee at the event on Sept. 4 at Werner Park in Papillion.

“It is to honor their loved ones and for us to say thanks and really celebrate their loved one’s legacy, and their legacy of being a hero,” Herber said. “They ultimately saved someone’s life because they gave what they gave.”

Cotton knows that without the new heart, his future would look a lot different.

“I mean, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “Put it that way.”