It all started with a single heart and led to a significant turn in three lives.
Last July, medical professionals at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York Presbyterian conducted a rare series of operations that transformed the futures of three children.
The heart from a deceased donor was given to 10-year-old Hend Almesafri. In an extraordinary act, she provided her lung valve to John Catriart and her aortic valve to Teddy Carter.
Since the surgeries, the children, now thriving, reunited in the hospital this past February. Hend was filled with admiration for her “Heart Brothers” and the memories they have created as a family.
John’s mother, Joan Dowling, shared her thoughts: “Seeing them together, you know it’s something good.”
The gratitude is overwhelming. “How do we thank someone who gave your child a chance at life?” she pondered.
John’s Serious Heart Condition
During her pregnancy with John, Joan discovered he had a serious heart condition known as arterial septal defect. This involves a hole in the heart that allows blood to flow improperly.
Joan and her husband, Thomas Catriart, were soon introduced to the team at New York Presbyterian.
“This was our first pregnancy, and everything changed dramatically,” Joan recalled. “It felt like a dark cloud had settled in.”
She described the unnatural fear that took hold after that moment. “It felt like the excitement of expecting a child had vanished,” she reflected. Yet, deep down, she believed the doctors would find a solution. “I loved him from the moment I knew I was expecting,” she shared.
Although John underwent surgery shortly after birth, the need for additional procedures lingered, and the prospect of ongoing surgeries was daunting.
When the potential for a heart transplant arose, Joan felt a surge of hope. “It seemed like a light at the end of the tunnel,” she expressed.
Later that July, while sipping coffee, she received a life-changing call: Hend had received a new heart and was donating her healthy valves.
After that, everything moved quickly. Thomas hurried home from a beach trip, and that same night, Dr. Gladstone briefed them on the upcoming operations.
Joan appreciated the professionalism and clarity of the staff: “They reassured us, saying, ‘It’s what we do every day!’”
On the morning of the surgery, the family felt anxiety, yet they knew John’s life was in capable hands.
Joan remembered that sunny day vividly. John, still in his pajamas, seemed blissfully unaware of the gravity of the situation. “The staff was incredibly kind,” she recalled, her voice heavy with emotion.
At just 18 months old, John’s surgery went smoothly. Thomas noted the comprehensive organization of the team during the process.
Post-surgery, they maintained contact with the families of the other recipients.
“We refer to them as ‘heart siblings,’” Joan said with a smile. “John has one side, and Teddy has the other.”
Teddy’s Life-Saving Transplant
At just two months old, Teddy was diagnosed with a heart defect called aortic stenosis, which can severely impede blood flow.
“It was shocking,” his mother, Katie, remarked.
Facing the necessity of open-heart surgery made their experience even more daunting. “No parent wants to navigate that path, but we trusted the team at New York Presbyterian,” she explained.
Without the heart transplant, Teddy would have faced multiple surgeries before adulthood.
Two Toddlers, One Heart Donation
This rare surgical approach, where a single donor heart benefits multiple patients, is known as a split root domino heart transplant.
Dr. Andrew Goldstone, the director of pediatric heart transplantation, commented on the rarity of such procedures: “These have only been done a handful of times in our region.”
All three children are now progressing well, and their reunion in February was, in Joan’s words, “surreal” and filled with gratitude.
“This little girl brought a gift bag when we met,” she said, feeling a surge of emotion. “I thought, ‘How can we possibly repay someone for giving our child life?’”
“It was heartwarming to share that time together,” Katie added.
Teddy’s father noted that despite their young age, children often comprehend more than we realize. Recently, Teddy said, “My heart is broken, and now it’s fixed.”
