Ochsner.org

Keysla Green had the best Mother’s Day of her life this year thanks to a heart transplant procedure that saved the life of her 11 year-old daughter Tyler.

After Tyler’s general practitioner noticed problems with the child’s heart in October 2009, Keysla brought her daughter to Ochsner.

As Tyler’s condition worsened, she spent the next few months in and out of the hospital as she became too weak to stay awake in class at school, and more and more problems developed with her heart.   

Keysla said Tyler seemed like any other girl her age, never letting her illness slow her down despite her escalating heart problems.

“She didn’t look sick through it all,” Keysla said.  “She didn’t show any signs or symptoms that something could have been wrong with her physically. She was in and out of the hospital often.”
   
This process went on for a few more months until the Ochsner team eventually implanted a defibrillator in Tyler’s chest to help stabilize her heartbeat.

After spending three weeks on the donor list waiting for a suitable heart donor, Tyler received a new heart on April 22, 2010, making her the first pediatric heart transplant patient since Hurricane Katrina.

Ochsner Medical Center Cardiovascular Surgeon Dr. Shaun Setty said the left side of Tyler’s heart was not working well at the time of the surgery, but her recovery since the surgery has been nothing short of remarkable.

“She received a very good heart,” Dr. Setty said.  “Everything went perfectly after the transplant.  After her discharge, she’s been doing extremely well. She’s very energetic, and her mom has been really surprised at her recovery.  She is back to her normal self.”

The pediatric cardiac surgery program at Ochsner was unavailable for about a year and a half after Katrina, Dr. Setty said, making success stories like Tyler’s even more remarkable.

“We started doing pediatric heart surgery again in September 2008, and we were reaccredited to do pediatric heart transplants again in January 2010,” he said.  “Now we’re the only pediatric heart transplant center and pediatric ventricular assist device center in Louisiana.  This is a testament to the multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff we have here to get these patients through. It is truly a team effort.”

Ochsner Medical Center Section Head of Transplant Surgery Dr. George Loss said the Ochsner transplant program is one of the largest in the country and one of the only ones in the region to specialize in pediatric heart transplants.

“If you wanted a pediatric heart transplant, you used to have to go to Houston or to Arkansas,” Dr. Loss said.  “It was very hard for the people in our area because they had no place to go.  After Katrina halted our transplant program, one of the things that we felt was very important was to be able to provide that transplant care here in New Orleans.”

Keysla said she and Tyler regularly visit the pediatric heart transplant team at Ochsner after Tyler’s checkups, making sure to thank the dozens of surgeons, doctors, nurses and staff members who played a part in Tyler’s successful operation.

“Everybody – the doctors, the nurses, the Child Life volunteers and all the staff – made sure that Tyler received the best care possible,” Keysla said.  “She loves all the nurses from the pediatric ICU and all the doctors.  They bring a smile to her face.”

Dr. Setty said Tyler is recovering remarkably well after being discharged a few weeks after her surgery – just in time for Mother’s Day.

“Her receiving her heart and then getting home a few days before Mother’s Day, that was the best gift ever,” Keysla said.  “I am very, very thankful for Ochsner and all that they did for us.”

To learn more about organ donation and how you can sign up to be an organ donor and save lives, click here.