Brother Shares Story of Fight for Life

BART’S HEART
A Journey of Family, Friendship, Football and Faith

Bart Burrell ’81 enjoyed a storied athletic career as a wide receiver at Purdue University. At the age of forty, mysterious health symptoms appeared. He was referred to Mayo Clinic, where he was given a rare diagnosis and told that, without treatment, he had less than six months to live. Bart underwent a life-saving stem cell transplant. Fourteen years later, new heart-related symptoms surfaced. Eventually, Bart’s best option for survival was a combined heart and liver transplant.

Relying on his faith, the discipline he learned through sports, his extensive network of close friends and wise coaches, and his loving wife and two daughters, he not only survived, but thrives through the hardships of his disease. This inspiring story provides encouragement for those who are facing trials and health issues, highlights the blessings of family and friends, and demonstrates how a relationship with Jesus can help us through our greatest life challenges.

Over the past 25 years, throughout the highs and lows of his many treatments, Bart’s closest friends, his Sigma Chi brothers, Mark Herrmann ’81, Tim Hull ’81, Jay Smith ‘83 and Tom Shurig ’82 were a constant source of encouragement. Other Sigs were there when needed, along with Paul Estridge who guided him spiritually, and Devon Brouse, Purdue’s former golf coach and close friend, who helped Bart reclaim some of his golf game.

How This Book Came To Be

Because of the unprecedented success of Bart’s stem cell transplant in 2000, he had opportunities to tell his story to different groups. He was the guest speaker at Delta Delta’s 2001 Brotherhood Dinner.  One of the frequent comments from these engagements was, “Bart, you should write a book.”  At the time Bart didn’t think there would be much interest in his story, so the idea faded away until 2023 when there was a knock on his front door. At the time Bart was looking for someone to cut his lawn and the older man at the door was interested in the job.  As they conversed, the older gentlemen asked about Bart.  After hearing some of what Bart had been through, he remarked, “You should write a book.”  This gentleman knew a retired physician who wrote books with Christian themes and encouraged Bart to meet him.  The writer, David Lee, worked with Bart for a year and a half to compile Bart’s story and have it published in July 2026.  When asked, “Why did he write about his life and challenges?” Bart replied, “I guess I wanted my grandkids to have something that would let them know me better, and if it will serve as encouragement to just one person who is struggling through a tough disease or other aspect of their lives, then it was worth it.”

The Carmel Connection

Most of Bart’s family (L-R) PJ, Amy, Ian, Bart, Nancy, Annika, Lia, and Parker.

Bart was raised in Carmel, Indiana. He graduated from Carmel High School, where he excelled in basketball and football, and he was part of the 1977 Carmel High School team that won the State Basketball Championship. From 1977 to 1981, he attended Purdue University, where he earned a degree in business and had a distinguished football career. Bart, as a wide receiver, caught passes from quarterback and lifelong friend Mark Herrmann, and together they became known as the “Carmel Connection”. He played on the only team in Purdue history to win three consecutive bowl games (Peach, Bluebonnet, and Liberty). He scored at least one touchdown in each of the bowl games, as well as in two post-season All-Star games (Japan Bowl and Hula Bowl). In 2010, he was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame.

Bart and his wife Nancy reside in Carmel, IN and Sarasota, FL, and have two adult daughters and four grandchildren.

How to Get Your Own Copy

The book is now available on Amazon. Go to Bart’s Heart to get your own copy.

Reviews/Remarks

Tom Shurig ‘82 Wrote

Bart Burrell, has written a remarkable book and if you know Bart, you know he’s never been one to talk about himself—let alone write a book. But a series of providential events led him to share the story of his grueling, unrelenting 25+ year battle with amyloidosis, a journey that ultimately included both a heart and liver transplant.

Bart has said that if his story helps just one person push through their own difficult challenges, it will have been worth telling.

As a side note, for Purdue fans, the book offers great stories and behind-the-scenes insights into one of the greatest eras of Purdue football.

Most of all, this is an inspiring story of faith, perseverance, friendship, and hope. There are many great stories involving Neil Armstrong, Mark Herrmann and of Bart’s very difficult recovery. I highly recommend it.

(For the Delta Delta record, I was studying the night of the infamous underage drinking police raid on the River Road Lounge, as described in the book, which resulted in the arrest of Bart and my two other roommates and aired on the Paul Harvey radio show the following morning!)