Jackson Radandt was born with a rare congenital heart disease known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome. He underwent three open-heart surgeries by the age of three and went into heart failure at age eleven. Due to his heart failure, he was placed on the transplant list. However, Jackson’s heart failed rapidly, and he needed a bridge to transplant.  On December 23rd, 2012, Jackson became the first single ventricle child in the United States, and second in the world, to receive the HeartWare Ventricular Assist Device (HVAD). He was also the first in the world to go home on the HVAD. He received his heart transplant in May of 2013 and has been healthy since.

He graduated from Marquette University in 2023 with a dual degree in Biomedical Sciences and Political Science. He is currently applying to medical school, hoping to begin in the Fall of 2026.