NEWS:GIRL LIVES 4 MONTHS WITHOUT A HEART
A 14-year old teenage girl survived for four months without a heart and has now left the hospital:D’zhana Simmons, was released from the hospital after a heart transplant on October 29, 2008.D’zhana, 14, had suffered from a rare heart condition called cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart. Her heart became to weak to support her any longer.D’zhana was taken from her home in South Carolina to the Holtz Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida where she underwent a heart transplant in July of this year. The initial heart transplant did not work how ever, the new heart that was placed is Miss Simmons, failed. Two days after her surgery, doctors had to remove the organ.
With uncertainties, the doctors decided to do a radical procedure they inserted two heart pumps into Miss Simmons’ chest. At this point doctors were uncertain if she would live long. This radical procedure was typically used only on adults. But, there was a huge major difference, the pumps used to keep her alive are typically used while a heart is still in a patient.In D’zhana’s case, the transplant heart, had to be removed due to a potential for rupture, thus leaving the young lady with out a heart.
Miss Simmons was in awe over her experience. She was quoted saying “I felt like a fake person” with no heart beating in her chest during the 118 days. She said “But, I know I was really here.”
One of the little things that she missed was being able to walk on her own, during the 118 days, if D’zhana wanted to go on a walk, she would have the huge machine that controlled the pumps in her chest in tow along with as many as 8 people along.Finally, on October 29, 2008, D’zhana received her second transplant. A few days after her transplant, she was allowed to walk on her own. It was said that Miss Simmons was very excited to experience one of the little things that we all take for granted.
During her 118 days, D’zhana also experienced liver and kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding and she could not breathe on her own. It is truly a miracle that this young lady lives today to tell all of her experience.
Dr. Peter Wearden, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the Children’s Hospital was quoted as saying “For more than 100 days there was literally no heart in this little girl’s chest. This is pretty amazing.”
This is also a new step in medical procedures for young heart patients. Although, it is rare for young children to experience such an illness, doctors now have another option.
For our young lady in this story, it is a new lease on life and a doctor with a creative eye, that has kept her with her family today.
Amazing…… Thank God….
Amazing. Bless her!
God is good!
God is good, y’all! ALL THE TIME!
Wooow! That is an amazing story! Bless her heart! Literally!!!
She’s beautiful!
this story is quite amazing touchin… my brother had the same heart condition lived with it for 4yrs but unfortunately died x mas eve last yr at 23yrs
Blessings to you and your family Jody.
OK,she looks weird in DA pic but thank god she lived….yay her
lilypafd…if you dont have something nice to say dont say it aat all…you just showed how ignorant people can be who gives a crap how she looks?? you gotta be a hoodrat asswhole….she’s a very blessed child who’s been thru alot in her body thank god for JESUS! jody my pryers are with you and ur fam
Bless her.
She looks beautiful and her scars represent how much she’s been through and how strong she is.
Great Example…”That all things are possible to him that believe”
God Blessed and keep the FAITH!
Awesome! God Bless her, the doctors & the rest of the medical personel who treated her! This is such a great story; especially here around the holidays.
Jody: you & your family have my sympathies.
God is good
God bless this beautiful young sister! God must have a lot for her to do on this earth! She will be a beacon of hope for many to look up to!
If you keep the faith, everything is possible. She should be an inspiration to us all.
Wow..thats something. But congrats to her and god bless!
That’s God and he performs miracles everyday.. God Bless her soul..
God is Good!
thank God for jesus this story is so touching and shows us all how blessed we are. And I am truly sorry for people that are ignorant and have to make stupid comments, you never know how your life will change in the blink of an eye. That could have been you or one of your loved ones. I pray that she continues to get stronger.
GOd bless her and her family as they get through these times .
Wow, this story is truly inspiring.
It is amazing what is being accomplished by doctors and care centers. Gives us hope for the future…..
May God Bless her with a long and healthy life.
As I’ve said in my wordpress blog, it was a miracle. Bless her and her God.
Oh, and bless BCK too