The Heart’s Memory (Revisited)

For centuries, Western doctors have assumed that all your memories reside only in your brain. However, in this article I talked about a curious bunch of people who, after receiving heart transplants, suddenly developed certain cravings and personality traits that could be linked to their donors.

A prim and proper librarian type, for example, received a heart transplant from a man who loved football, swore like a sailor, and loved chicken wings. Within weeks of her transplant, the woman began inexplicably eating wings while watching football and using words she hardly even knew before, much less actually used. Needless to say, the woman hadn’t shown any interest in football, wings, or swearing before the transplant.

It seems that a new case has come to light. Australian David Waters was given a heart transplant due to a “stiffening of the heart ventricles”. His donor was an 18 year-old man named Kaden Delaney, who was left brain dead after an automobile accident.

Kaden’s favorite snack was something called “Burger Rings” (think “burger-flavored Funyuns”). He was well-known for loving the snack, and was frequently seen eating them by friends and family. After the transplant, Waters developed an overwhelming urge for the snack, something he hadn’t had before. According to Waters, Burger Rings were “all I seemed to want to eat after my surgery”.

Of course, mainstream doctors dismiss Water’s claim as coincidence, but the phenomenon (if it exists) is known as cellular memory, and it’s pretty fascinating.

4 Replies to “The Heart’s Memory (Revisited)”

  1. Hmm, a denervated heart , with cellular memory? In the 3 years since my heart transplant, the only cravings I’ve had have been Prednisone induced. Had I been told my donor liked a specific item I’m certain I would have taken the clue and obliged . However , my donor was an African American , and I’m Caucasian, sofar I have no specific cravings. I would attribute this to the power of suggestion . and in the librarians situation a release of inhibition, since life is so DAMN good after geting a new heart. Blessed Stephen M. Harrelson

  2. That’s great Stephen, except that the power of suggestion only occurs when there actually is suggestion. They hadn’t met, neither had their families, and the recipient had no way of knowing. Pretty shallow minded viewpoint.

  3. Wow, I’ve only just noticed these articles now after 3 years of it first being published in a small town newspaper back in Australia.
    I had not met kadens family at the time the cravings had begun so naturally i was curious to ask them when we met if kaden ate burger rings. I ate them as a kid but do not eat much junk food but it is all I wanted for the first couple months.
    I also tried to get my partner to place a bet on a rugby league game (something which I know nothing about) for the non favored team.. Turns out the team won. Also turns out my donor family is a rugby league family. All this only lasted a couple months though, I dont get the cravings or the urge to bet on sports I know nothing about.. Could be coincidence, I’m still on the fence..

  4. I think, the Qur’an (Islamic holly book) may speak about something like this, the heart has some kind of memory…would chick on that..

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