Fleming County woman needs rare heart-lung transplant
and last updated 2021-02-12 19:57:09-05
HILLSBORO, Ky. (LEX 18) â Twenty-one year-old Kennedy Maze has fought cystic fibrosis her entire life.
Cystic fibrosis is a disease which affects about 35,000 people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disorder that causes problems with breathing and digestion.
In 2013, Maze underwent a double lung transplant as a teenager after doctors found the cystic fibrosis was in her lungs. In 2015, Maze was diagnosed with stage 4 Burkitt lymphoma and began treatment for the cancer. Then in 2020, Mazeâs body began rejecting her transplant lungs and she was put back on the lung transplant list. While undergoing a series of testing, doctors discovered a complication. Maze was experiencing heart failure.
Lamere Johnson is a first grade student at Johnston Elementary. His mother, Contessa Culbreath, said Lamere was diagnosed in utero with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
The couple from Homeworth, Ohio, spoke with Kate Snow on TODAY Thursday about Grant s selfless act and the inspiring journey that has resulted in a healthy, happy Brooks, who is now 2 years old.
The ordeal began on Nov. 6, 2019, when Matt and Andrea noticed that Brooks eyes and skin looked yellow, which is a sign of jaundice. The next day they took him to their pediatrician, which led to a trip to the emergency room at nearby Akron Children s Hospital.
A day later, Brooks was being transported by ambulance to the Cleveland Clinic, where he was diagnosed with acute liver failure.
Transplant family celebrating American Heart Month
Kim Carter Parker
Special to The Kansan
For the Hernandez family of Salina, February truly is a month to celebrate selfless gifts from the heart. Their toddler, Peter, is alive and able to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year because of the new heart he received two years ago on Feb. 26.
Peter Hernandez was born in August 2018,the third child of Erin and Christopher Hernandez. Prior to his birth, Erin and Christopher did not know anything was wrong with their baby. But when Peter was 1 day old it was discovered he had a congenital heart defect critical aortic stenosis.