Hal Jay, the long running WBAP 820 AM Dallas - Fort Worth morning radio host, has a new heart after a transplant according to his wife, Ann, who called into the radio station February 7, 2023.
UPDATE MARCH 2023
Hal Jay to make WBAP DFW return
UPDATE FEBRUARY 2023
Hal Jay on heart transplant recovery
Back in January, Jay called in from his Baylor University Medical Center hospital room to let the morning show audience know about his current health condition and need of a heart transplant.
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Here is an edited transcript of Hal Jay's remarks from the January 16, 2023 WBAP Morning New broadcast embedded below.
"It's been a...it's been a heck of a week. It all started last to Monday night or Tuesday night. And I had another ventricular tachycardia event where I just passed out and went down on the floor.
I asked the doctor. I said, 'how sick?' But he goes, 'You're real, real sick.' He goes, 'Your heart's done.' And the people here at this hospital, you can't imagine the people here.
This place. Baylor United, Baylor University Medical Center here in the Roberts Building. There are no words. I've had more testing done and blood work, and I've got stuff sticking out of my neck and it's unbelievable. They asked me if I'm allergic to anything before they started all this. And I said, hospital bills.
When I think of the heart transplant list, you know, you go on it. Okay, I'm way down the know there's different levels of the heart transplant list. Level one through level four, depending on how bad you are. You'll get on that list. Right now, for me, they're looking at level two and we'll see. I don't know what that means. I don't know if it'll be three months, three weeks, ten months. It could be. It could be real quick. But nevertheless, I'm looking forward to this. It's given me a second chance."
Jay, who said he hasn't been able to drive recently due to his condition, will check back with the WBAP Morning New team periodically with his health updates.
I've been told by a WPAB DFW radio listener that Ernie Brown, Steve Lamb (Sports), Brad Barton (Weather) and Monty Cook (filling in for Hal from the Traffic slot) are holding the fort down.
Jay has been with WBAP since 1981.
(Thanks Nolan)
