Medical Innovation Providing a Second Chance at Life

In November, NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital celebrated the 25th anniversary of pediatric heart transplantation.  In 1984, the Hospital’s surgeons performed the world’s first successful heart transplant to a 4-year-old boy.  Since then more than 350 children have received new hearts at the Hospital.

Twenty-three years ago, one of those fortunate children was 12 year old Christy Farley.  In a CNN article today, Farley of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey said “Not a day or minute goes by where I don’t think about how lucky I am just to be here, I thank God every day when I wake up that I woke up.”

With her new heart, Farley has been able to have the life experiences of graduating from college to become a nurse and she recently gave birth to her daughter, Analise.  Farley said that “As a child I learned that having a transplant would make me better, and my job was to get better.  So that’s what I focused on.  Of course, there’s always fear.  If I get sick, if I get the flu, a million things go through my mind.  Now, I look at more positive things and how successful I am.”

This news story reminds us of what medical innovation means to society’s happiness and future.  Doctors at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital have given Christy Farley and many others a second chance at life.