Personal Stories
Dr. Christiaan N. Barnard
Sir Prof Magdi Yacoub

Donors
Steven Tibbey
Rebecca Nix
Natalie Brown

Artificial Heart
Robert Tools
Jim Braid

Heart Transplants
Children
Andrea Barrett
Shannon Curran
Emma Grace George
Ashlea Jerome
Leslie Keown
Shawn Middleton
Hannah Pudsey
Lizzie Rogaski

Adults
Post Op Diary
Carol Agle
Trish Byng
Micky Byrne
Reg Chisholm
Delia
Mike Doyle
Gay Eberhart
Jill Edwards
Maria Encalada
Bob Enos
John Fisher
Mick Foster
Steve Henderson
Tanya Jones
Derrick Morris
Bob Pitcock
Charlotte Jane Tate
Ann Woodbridge

Heart and Lung
Diana Chandler
John Rueben
Peta Capello

Domino Transplants
Peter Allinson
Shonqueela Mallory
Andrew Wilson

Lvad's
Jonathon Holmes

Carers Story
Jan Fisher
Sandra Taylor

Waiting For Transplant
Diana Chandler

Shonqueela Mallory
"Queen Bee"
Domino Heart Transplant July 26, 1993

Our daughter Shonqueela was born February 10, 1992. She was born with Transposition Of The Great Artery. Within the first three months of her life she received corrective surgery for her condition, as well as a pacemaker, and her right diaphragm which is paralyzed was sutured down.

Shonqueela came home from the hospital before she reached her fourth month of life. Shortly after she adopted the nickname "Queen Bee".

Considering the illness that Queen Bee was born with she did very well, for the first year. When she was one year of age, she became ill with pneumonia. It was at that time that we took her back to the Children's Hospital Of Buffalo and were told that the right side of her heart no longer was functioning. The idea of transplantation was introduced to us and we were referred to the Children's Hospital Of Pittsburgh for further evaluation.

The Transplant
Shonqueela had a life expectancy of six months when she was put on the list to receive a new heart. We were called two weeks later, July 26, 1993, to return to Pittsburgh, a heart was found for our "Queen Bee".

Shonqueela received a domino transplant this is when living heart donors donate their healthy heart when they become heart-lung recipients.
Her recovery was great, we expected to stay in Pittsburgh for months. As all of the precautions, risk and side effects were explained to us in detail. However, Shonqueela became a new person almost immediately and we were back at home within 3 weeks.

Immediately after the transplant Shonqueela began to develop normally. Before receiving her new heart she had very few teeth, did not crawl, or walk, and rarely cried. She progressed so rapidly, that I am still amazed how the transplant improved her life. From July23, 1993 - March 28, 2002 Shonqueela lived a normal childhood. Of course she had to take medications that she will have to take for the rest of her life. Considering that she is living with someone else's heart, she was doing great! Some pneumonia, a few hospitalizations, and only one rejection that required hospitalization. We felt bless! And I guess we still do, because she is still here with us today!

Presently
It has almost been nine years since Shonqueela received her new heart. And I thank God that she has remained with us for this time. To share her life with us, to play with her siblings, watching her grow, enjoying her appreciation for reading and I could go on for days.
On March 28, 2002, we took Shonqueela back to Pittsburgh for one of her regularly scheduled biopsy and catheterization. We were informed that Shonqueela, at the age of 10 years old, has Coronary Artery Disease, which is one of the side affects of a heart transplant.
Shonqueela received her stent placement May 22nd. She received a special stent that have not been FDA approved but was referred to us as being the best option for her.
May 29, 2002 Queen Bee was put back on the list to receive another heart transplant. We anxiously but patiently await the call to return to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Lakiesha Gotel
Mom of Shonqueela Mallory