Heart Transplant Survivor: I Thought It Was a Cough - It Was Heart Failure

n this unforgettable episode of Almost Got It, we sit down with Trent Rankin — a U.S. Army Ranger, Apple engineer, and heart transplant survivor — to uncover the story of how a seemingly harmless cough turned out to be a deadly sign of heart failure.From growing up in Alabama to enduring Ranger School, landing a role at Apple, and then suddenly waking up in the ICU unable to breathe — Trent's journey is one of discipline, denial, and ultimately, survival.He opens up about:• Getting medically discharged from the military• Rebuilding his identity in Silicon Valley• The terrifying moment his lungs filled with fluid• What it’s like to wake up with a new heartThis isn’t just a story about near-death — it’s a story about what comes after.—Follow the hosts and guest:Dilan: https://x.com/dilanBen: https://x.com/realbentauberTrent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trenton-rankin-445392152/⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – Intro: From Alabama to Apple01:10 – Trent’s Childhood on the Gulf Coast02:35 – Why He Joined the Military04:15 – “I Was Already Disciplined Before the Army”07:00 – Becoming an Extrovert Through Camaraderie09:00 – The Hardest Part of Military Life11:10 – Mental Adaptation vs Physical Limits14:00 – Why He Got Kicked Out of Ranger School15:30 – A Surprise Heart Diagnosis18:00 – Rebuilding His Life After Discharge21:00 – From Denial to Engineering at Apple23:10 – Signs of Heart Failure at Age 2824:30 – ICU Emergency: Lungs Full of Fluid26:15 – The Biology of a Failing Heart29:20 – The Medications That Keep You Alive31:45 – What Hospitalization Does to the Mind34:00 – What He’d Tell His 24-Year-Old Self35:30 – Would He Do It All Again?37:10 – Heart Transplant: Facing Death, Twice40:00 – Recovery and What Surprised Him Most43:00 – The Day His New Heart Arrived45:20 – Living With a Heart That Isn’t Yours48:00 – How Facing Mortality Changed His Philosophy50:40 – The Future of Bioengineering and Transplants52:15 – Final Reflections: Humor, Purpose & Survival