Crewman's wife awaits transplant

By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
June 11, 2001
4:29 PM EDT (2029 GMT)

CONCORD, N.C. -- The grind of the seemingly non-stop Winston Cup season can cause enough strain and pressure on crew members and their families. For Shawn Parker, the stress is even greater as his wife Tara awaits a heart transplant.

Shawn Parker is car chief and rear tire changer for Mark Martin.

The car chief and rear-tire changer for Mark Martin's No. 6 Ford has been balancing his time between his race duties, shop duties and husband duties the last few weeks. Splitting his time between the shop just northeast of Charlotte and Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C., Parker said the waiting has been tough.

"All she can do is just wait," he said. "She's on medicine right now to help her with the congenital heart defect. The best way for me to explain it is, she doesn't have a full-size heart like most others do.

"She already had open heart surgery in July last year to put in a new heart valve and make some repairs. As she grows and gets older, it's tough to keep up with the surgeries because her body changes.

"Since that surgery, she's had problems with other organs because the heart can't provide enough blood to them. As the heart she has now deteriorates, the only thing that can help her is a heart transplant."

Shawn, 27, and Tara, 26, met at Daytona Speedweeks in 1994. He was working on Rusty Wallace's team and she for Winston promotions. An unplanned meeting between the two clicked and they have been together ever since. Married last November, the couple now reside in Cornelius.

Some of the factors involved for matching a heart include blood type, size and age to make a true fit with a donor. Tara currently experiences shortness of breath and fatigue from most types of physical exertion.

As she awaits her possible life-saving phone call, Shawn makes a daily 130-mile round-trip from Monday through Wednesday to see his wife, then leaves Thursday for the races.

Shawn Parker and his crew perform their jobs at Rockingham.

The last few weeks have taken a toll on Shawn, as well. He's not complaining or looking for a medal for his attentiveness. He just wants his wife to get better.

However, one result he'd like from this whole ordeal is to raise the awareness of being an organ donor

"Until three weeks ago, I wasn't even an organ donor," he said. "I am now, that's for sure. As I watch someone I love just sit and wait, I see the importance of the program."

Tara understands Shawn's commitment to his job. He said she realizes the hours that go into the sport and keeps up with things.

"Oh yeah, she has a TV in her room," he says with a slight laugh. "She made sure the doctors let her have one to see the races. She's been very supportive of our race team."

Members of the team have been supportive as well. From team owner Jack Roush to crew chief Jimmy Fenning, they all understand what Shawn has endured.

"The team has been super with everything that's been going on," Shawn said. "I've not taken any time off or slacked off on my duties, I hope. Hopefully this will all be worth it in the end.

"We have to wait for a possible match for Tara, then for it to be deemed suitable by a cardiologist or transplant specialist. Once we get the call, and the match is approved, we have the post-surgery recuperation to get through. It could take two weeks or two months, depending on the situation."

Shawn Parker splits his time between the race shop and Tara's bedside.

The Parkers don't want people to feel sorry for them. What they would like, however, is for others to realize the importance of organ donation programs.

"It's so easy to sign up to be a donor when you go to the DMV," Parker said. "There's so many parts of your body that other people can use.

"I'm not talking about just our situation, I mean everyone. Share your life with someone else who can benefit."