In the early 1990’s, God sent Tim Haahs a wake up call. While driving on the highway, his vision blacked out for over a minute. He managed to pull his car over, but realized there was something seriously wrong. His doctor informed him that if he did not receive a heart transplant, he would die. So Tim waited in the hospital. A month. His health was steadily declining. Three months. He was becoming very weak, and the expenses were becoming enormous. Six months. Finally they found a donor. But would his body accept the heart? Would he recover fully? 75% of heart transplant patients reject their new hearts before one year. Over the next few years Tim Haahs survived not one, but two heart transplants. The fact that he is alive today is a miracle.
Surviving years worth of health problems at such a low survival rate gave Tim a renewed perspective on life. What is truly important? What should he do with his second chance? Shortly after his surgery, Tim knew what his calling was: serving others.
Tim founded the engineering and architectural design firm Timothy Haahs & Associates, Inc. with that mission: “we exist to help those in need”. He started a new church, emphasizing that the role of Christians is to love and serve others. When the company grew, Tim and some of his employees designed and funded the Calvary Vision Center. The center’s physical design and use became an outward expression of Tim’s passion for community and serving others.