Windy Manzardo undergoes successful heart transplant surgery
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 1 year, 1 month AGO
By MARK NELKE
Sports editor
Windy Manzardo, wife of former North Idaho College and Lake City High baseball coach Paul Manzardo and mother to baseball-playing sons Kyle and Marcus, underwent a successful heart transplant Tuesday at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Paul announced on Facebook.
Paul Manzardo posted the following on Facebook on Tuesday afternoon:
“Windy’s heart transplant was a SUCCESS!! Her new heart is beating!! Now we just need to stabilize and monitor her. The goal is to get breathing tube removed from her later today. This process has been a journey. Windy, Kyle, Marcus and I are extremely thankful for the prayers and well wishes!! Thank you, Donor!!!”
The former Windy Eagle, a star athlete at Clark Fork High, had been awaiting a new heart since 2022, when she was diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease which attacks the electrical system of her heart.
Windy, a cardiac nurse, got the call she has been waiting for over the weekend.
Kyle, who starred at Lake City High and Washington State, is a first baseman/designated hitter for the Cleveland Guardians, who wrapped up a three-game home series with the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.
According to Cleveland.com, Kyle Manzardo received the good news about his mom on Sunday night, after the Guardians had arrived in Houston to begin a three-game series with the Astros on Monday.
He then contacted his manager, Stephen Vogt, according to beat reporters Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga on the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast.
“He called Vogt late Sunday night, told him what the situation was, and Vogt told him, ‘You’ve got to get out of here. You’ve got to go. You only have one mom,’” Hoynes said.
Manzardo was placed on the family medical emergency list, which allows for an absence of a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven.
Paul Manzardo resigned as Lake City baseball coach in December 2022, following Windy’s diagnosis.
Marcus Manzardo recently completed his college career at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, after playing two seasons for Community Colleges of Spokane (now called Spokane Colleges).
Cards for Windy Manzardo can be sent to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, 101 W. 8th Ave., Spokane, WA 99204.