Today’s Town Hall Meeting deals with cardiac transplantation. The first heart transplant was done in South Africa in December of 1967 by Dr. Christiaan Barnard, with pediatric heart transplants following close behind. Through the years, the operation itself, donor and recipient matching procedures, and post-transplant management have evolved to what it is today. Heart transplantation is becoming more common in the CHD community as CHDers are living longer and running out of palliative surgical options. Research is being done to develop new surgeries and protocols to increase quality and quantity of life for CHDers, but in the meantime, transplant can be a great option for those who are candidates.

Guy Simkay was born in Israel with dextro-transposition of the great vessels with double outlet right ventricle and a ventricular septal defect. He received his heart transplant at the age of 46 at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, but is hoping to move back to the New York City area soon.

Lorrie is a 26-year-old born with a complex single ventricle composed of right dominant complete AV canal and Double Outlet Right Ventricle. She had three palliative heart surgeries as she grew up providing her moderate relief. During her time in college, her single ventricle heart could not keep up. Since she was out of surgical options, she was listed for transplant in 2020 and received the gift of life over a year later. She is now using her new quality of life to become a Physician Assistant to give back to the CHD and transplant communities.

Jessica Carmel was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. She lived with a Fontan heart for years before needing a heart transplant. After her transplant, she still felt unwell and for over two years she lived with a lot of pain, migraines, and was unable to eat much of anything without getting sick. Jessica and her mother did a lot of research and believed that perhaps her gallbladder wasn’t working well. After a Herculean amount of advocacy work, her gallbladder was removed, and she got relief from the radiating pain she suffered from and her migraines, but her medical journey wasn’t over. Her kidneys started to shut down, and she needed a kidney transplant. Jessica has written about her medical odyssey in her book The Hearts of a Girl. Her sister Amy ended up donating the kidney she so desperately needed.

Co-Hosts Jason Crutchley and Leslie Castro, both transplant recipients themselves, interview these three guests in the first segment. The second segment allows Patrons an opportunity to ask the guests questions and share their own stories.

The final segment allows the Co-Producers, Ayrton Beatty, and Anna Jaworski, an opportunity to share their feelings about the podcast.

Through many conversations during this podcast, we learn so much about cardiac transplantation in the CHD community. The discussion includes a historical perspective, certain medications and their potential side effects, and how these heart warriors have dealt with the journey to get, and keep, a new heart.

We hope you'll join this episode and continue the conversation with us on FB and IG.

If you'd like to be a Patron or join our group of volunteers, check out our website: https://www.heartsunitetheglobe.com