URGENT UPDATE: In a miraculous turn of events, Monica McFarlan, a mother who was told she had just days to live, has received a groundbreaking heart-liver transplant, giving her a second chance at life. Just three months after the 16-hour surgery at Emory University Hospital in Georgia, Monica is thriving, defying the odds after battling severe heart failure for over 15 years.
Monica, diagnosed at just 37 years old, faced an uphill struggle with heart failure that included multiple hospitalizations and surgeries. By early February 2023, her family was devastated to learn that she had been denied a traditional heart transplant at multiple centers across the country due to her high antibody levels. “I had two days to two weeks to live to say my goodbyes,” she told 11 Alive.
As hospice care discussions began, hope emerged when a medical team proposed the innovative HALT procedure—Heart After Liver Transplant. This cutting-edge surgical strategy involves first transplanting a liver to protect the body from rejecting a subsequent heart transplant. Dr. Victor Pretorius, the surgical director for heart transplant at Emory, confirmed the procedure’s rarity and life-saving potential.
“It was a big undertaking. The operation was extraordinary, and it took 16 hours to complete,” Dr. Pretorius stated. “A combined heart and liver transplant has protective properties in the long term and ultimately gives the patient hope and a future.”
The HALT procedure, developed in 2023, was only the second of its kind performed in the United States. Monica’s team acted quickly, realizing that this was her best chance of survival. After the surgery’s success, Monica expressed her gratitude and joy, saying, “It feels good to laugh again, to feel like myself again.”
In an incredible twist, Monica’s own liver, which was structurally healthy, was donated to another patient with heart failure, potentially saving a second life. “I had a second chance, a third chance, a fourth chance! I am just so grateful,” Monica shared, reflecting on her emotional turnaround from despair to hope. “My faith has grown so strong, and my trust in Him, because without God, I wouldn’t be here right now.”
This extraordinary story of resilience and medical innovation highlights the transformative power of modern medicine, offering hope to countless others facing similar health crises. As Monica continues to recover and thrive, the medical community is closely watching her progress, celebrating this remarkable success.
For those awaiting similar advancements in treatment, this case underscores the importance of exploring all medical options, as breakthroughs can come unexpectedly, even at the darkest moments.
