Heart Failure Survivor Raises Awareness About Organ Donation, Honors Transplant Donor

Bill Soloway had been an avid bicyclist since his teenage years until 2013. He regarded bicycling as transportation, exercise and therapy. Two years before his heart transplant, he biked in charity rides for causes such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes and cancer while raising money for them.

“I was always one of these guys who wanted to help people in need. Then, suddenly, I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. I couldn’t walk three steps without getting winded. It was just like climbing Mount Everest. I never dreamt I would ever be back on my bicycle ever again,” Soloway recalled.

The heart transplant recipient had been diagnosed with a life-threatening heart arrhythmia known as  ventricular tachycardia in 1996. This started his transplant journey, and Soloway’s experience with heart issues was not an isolated incident. His brother died at 27 years old from a genetic heart defect, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle. Modern medicine helped Soloway in ways that it had not yet been available to his brother in the eighties.

“When I got diagnosed and a cardiologist said, ‘Hey, you have the same thing that your brother died from, it was a very sobering thing,” Soloway explained.

The Pennsylvania resident shared that in 1996, his first defibrillator (also known as an ICD) was implanted in his chest.

 “So, that was really the start of my journey,” said Soloway. 

Soloway’s condition was managed by a team of specialists. He was still able to bike and conduct life tasks.

 “I also took different kinds of heart medication. Then, things got progressively worse as I got closer to my heart transplant in 2013,” Soloway added.

Prescribed medications and procedures that Soloway underwent became ineffective. He was then diagnosed with congestive heart failure and would need a heart transplant. 

His 10-year heart anniversary was on June 17, 2025. James E. Zimmerman, Jr., a generous heart donor, gave Soloway a second chance at life. He was in the small percentage of organ recipients who found out who donated the organ to him, and Soloway had an opportunity to meet his donor’s family members. Soloway penned a letter to the donor’s parents, Jim Zimmerman and Charlotte Mayne. They elected to connect with him before Mayne passed away. However, Soloway and Jim remain in touch. 

“We actually do things. Jim’s a part of my family,” Soloway explained. “We get together throughout the year.”

Jim continues to cheer on Soloway at bike races and supports things he does as an organ donation ambassador. Soloway’s advocacy work for Donate Life also spans to their organ procurement partners.  Donate Life Maryland (DLM), the state-authorized nonprofit organization, is responsible for managing the Maryland Donor Registry. DLM saves and enhances lives by registering organ, eye and tissue donors in Maryland. However, Infinite Legacy, the nonprofit organ procurement organization, facilitates organ, eye and tissue donation in Maryland and the Metro DC area.

A part of James Jr. lives in Soloway—a man who honors and respects his donor’s legacy. Soloway rides a high-wheel bicycle as a hobby.

“No matter where I go or what I am doing, it also comes up that I am a heart transplant recipient,” he added.

Soloway, a member of The Wheelman nonprofit organization, and the state captain for Pennsylvania and New Jersey chapters, recently rode atop his high-wheel bike in a Donate Life biker’s outfit. He participated in the National Clustered Spires High-Wheel Race on July 12, 2025. Jim Zimmerman attended the race.

“I’ve been in this [National Clustered Spires] High-Wheel Race in Frederick, Maryland for six years now. The race organizers allowed Infinite Legacy to set up a tent in honor of my tenth-year heart transplant anniversary. I had my bike on display when I was not racing. Infinite Legacy had organ donation trivia and prizes in the tent. People could sign up to become organ donors in Maryland,” Soloway stated.

According to Donate Life America, more than 100,000 people are waiting for lifesaving organ transplants. Donor Alliance reported that 59% of the adult Maryland population is registered as organ donors although around 40% are not registered.

“The name of the game is to get more people registered to become organ donors,” Soloway concluded.Please visit Donate Life Maryland via https://www.donatelifemaryland.org  to learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation.