Created: 6/1/2010 9:58:21 PM 
Charleston, SC (WLTX) - Doctors say a Midlands man is extremely lucky to be alive after a very rare and risky surgery.
29-year-old Rico Mitchell has had several near death experiences due to a genetic heart defect. For much of the last 11 years there's been doubts about how much longer his heart would beat.
During the past three months Rico has been confined to a hospital bed at MUSC in Charleston. We went to visit him there days after a surgery that doctors say saved his life.
"It's been very difficult for us to find a heart for him and poor Rico is getting sicker and sicker," said Chief of MUSC's Cardiothoracic Surgery division Dr. John Ikonomidis.
Rico has Marfan's disease, which has caused his heart to weaken considerably.
"You come to the conclusion that if you die you die, and there's nothing you can do about it," said Rico from his hospital bed.
It's an attitude he's developed ever since he nearly died at the age of 18. Doctors had to perform a high risk surgery on his heart to keep him alive. In the years following he faced more and more life and death situations because of his heart.
"I almost died at 25. Coulda' died when I was 26, when I was 27, when I was 28. Matter of fact I could have died this year," said Rico.
Mitchell has been married for the past six years. "He's my best friend, my soul mate," said Rico's wife Kelli Mitchell.
He says his faith and his family, particularly his mom make this uncertain life a joy.
"My mom means the world to me. I don't know what I'd do without her. People can say what they want, but I've got the greatest mom in the world," said Rico as he cried.
"We talk to each other once a day and when it went two days, I call him to see if everything is alright," said Rico's mom Sonya Brown.
Rico's latest trip to the hospital showed everything wasn't alright. MUSC heart surgeon John Ikonomidis says only a high risk, very rare heart transplant surgery could keep Rico alive.
"Many hearts have come up and we've had to turn them down for various reasons," said Dr. Ikonomidis.
Then out of nowhere, about two weeks ago on a Sunday night, Rico's new heart became available.
"He called and said I think they have a heart for me and I was like 'what'!" said Kelli.
Ikonomidis and his team skillfully worked, and like all those times before, Rico survived. "Technically the operation went very well," said Dr. Ikonomidis.
"It means the world to me to know that God spared my life and answered my prayers. I get to enjoy my wife, my momma, and my family," said Rico.
"I walk by faith, not by sight. I thank God I walk by faith. I give God thanks," said Brown.
We've heard it many times before, but coming from Rico they're more than just words. "You've gotta be thankful for everyday. Don't take it for granted, life is short."
Rico and his wife plan on trying to have children in the near future.
Over the course of his time in the hospital Rico's medical bills have become significant. His church is holding a benefit gospel concert for him later this month.
It will take place at 4:00 p.m. on June 26th at the Greater Blessings Baptist Church in St. Mathews. The address is 708 Stabler Farm Road.
There's also a fund set up for Rico at the SC Telco Federal Credit Union.
