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| Vol. 22, No. 19 |
| October 15, 2000 |
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A Heartwarming Victory Houston's First Double Lung-Heart Transplant in 20 Years Performed at St. Luke's
When Rebecca Butler-Holder answered her pager one night last fall, she had good reason to rejoice. In the hands of Dr. Scott Scheinin, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon at St.Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Butler-Holder was soon to become one of only 100 patients in the world to receive two donor lungs and a heart in a single procedure. Dr. Scheinin was also to become the first physician in 20 years to perform the procedure in Houston. "Rebecca was born with a congenital defect of her heart that eventually caused irreversible damage to her lungs," Dr. Scheinin says. "Today, we can correct this defect in young children and avoid lung damage. Unfortunately, technology not being then what it is now, a double lung and heart transplant was Rebecca's only option for survival." Butler-Holder is grateful to have found a donor match in time, not to mention a surgeon like Dr. Scheinin who was up for the job. "This time last year, I finally accepted the fact that I might die. Now, through this wonderful gift from the donor family and the talented hands of Dr. Scheinin, I have a second chance at life," Butler-Holder says. "Before the transplant, I had trouble doing things that most people take for granted, like walking and breathing. I can now participate in and enjoy a normal life." When Butler-Holder was asked by the Heart Exchange, a non-profit group that promotes organ donor awareness, to throw in the first pitch at the Astros vs. Cardinals game honoring Donor Day, she insisted that Dr. Scheinin accompany her onto the field. Dr. Scheinin, who performed the surgery on Butler-Holder one year ago at St. Luke's, and has since performed the same procedure on another patient this spring, admires her positive attitude. "Rebecca is such a special person. I'm just happy that I was able to be a vehicle in helping restore her to good health," Dr. Scheinin says. "She's felt sick all her life, so if there's anyone who deserves a chance to live life to it's fullest, it's Rebecca." Butler-Holder says that thanks to Dr. Scheinin and the decision of her donor family, she finally has hope and peace. "I really want to see my son graduate from high school. At one point, I didn't think I'd be able to, but now I know I'm going to make it!"
©2006 Texas Medical Center E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/10_15_00/page_02.html |
