Woman celebrates 40th anniversary of heart transplant with same donor heart
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Craze lives her life in miles and moments. She logs each mile as she runs the marathon. She makes the most of every moment by diligently running, strength training, hiking, and swimming to keep her donated heart beating strong. This year, Lizzie celebrated a remarkable milestone of 40 years since her infant heart transplant. What's even more remarkable is that she did it using the same donor's heart.
“I had a heart transplant at Stanford University in 1984. At the time, there weren't many hospitals in the world that were doing heart transplants for children,” Lizzy says. she is the longest surviving heart transplant Patients at Stanford University.
Lizzie was diagnosed as an infant with endocardial fibroelastosis, a rare heart disease that affects infants and children. This caused her heart muscle to thicken, making it difficult for her heart to pump blood throughout her body.
“My family is five-on-five; heart failure” says Lizzie. “My parents had lost three children in infancy before I was born, and my older brother Andy became ill as a teenager. He has had a transplant and was my biggest cheerleader when I showed signs of heart failure at age 2.
That was in 1984. The beginning of pediatric heart transplantation Only a handful of transplant centers, including Stanford University, were attempting transplants in young children. Without a heart transplant, Lizzie would not have survived. She was the youngest heart transplant patient at Stanford University at the time.
50 Years of Pediatric Heart Transplantation at Stanford Children's Hospital
The pediatric heart transplant program at Stanford Medicine Children's Health is one of the oldest and largest programs in the world. Lizzy's key milestones in 2024 are: Remarkable Milestones Unique to Stanford University's 50 Years of Providing Pediatric Heart Transplants. It's a big celebration for Betty Eileen Moore Children's Heart CenterStanford Children's Center pediatric transplant center,and Over 500 pediatric patients This is a rare milestone in itself for a pediatric heart transplant center.
“field [of heart transplant] “It was essentially invented here at Stanford, and we're very proud of it.” Dr. Michael MarrDirector of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Stanford Medicine Children's Health Center, Betty Eileen Moore Pediatric Heart Center; Dr. Norman Shumwayperformed by a Stanford heart surgeon. First successful adult heart transplant in the United States in 1968 He was one of the first Stanford surgeons to perform a pediatric heart transplant in 1974.
Lizzie's heart transplant took place in 1984. Philip Oyer, MDHe is a recently retired professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford School of Medicine. For many years, Stanford Children's Hospital has been known for its impressive heart transplants. result With extensive experience, Stanford Children's Hospital ranks No. 1 in pediatric heart transplants in the Western United States and has performed the most pediatric heart transplants in California for nine consecutive years.
Additionally, Stanford Children's Hospital is known for its innovative approach to changing the lives of young patients for the better. For example, since the first successful pediatric heart transplant at Stanford University, the heart team has been working with Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Therapy, the first program in the country to combine heart failure and heart transplantation.agreement), found creative ways to use adult V.A.D./ Berlin Heart in Non-Adult Patients Discovers Way to Minimize Strokes in Small VAD Patients, Invents Highly Effective Method Donor size matching technology By expanding its donor pool, the hospital's extraordinary progress has earned it the title of one of the most innovative children's hospitals in the country. heart transplant treatment.
Fast forward 40 years
Lizzie, the oldest heart transplant survivor at Stanford Medicine Children's Health, didn't waste a second of her life. She graduated high school and college, got married, found a fulfilling job in the technology industry, and started a family.
“I try to do everything I want to do and live life to the best of my ability,” she says. “I like saying yes to crazy ideas.”
One of those wild ideas was having children of my own. Lizzie never thought such a thing was possible, as her family had severe heart disease. She accepted this as fact, but in 2012 a doctor at Stanford University asked her if she would like to receive specialized treatment. cardiovascular genetic testing To see if they can find out the cause of all the heart problems in her family. She provided a sample, and the team discovered the gene responsible for dilated cardiomyopathy in her family.
“At the time of the test, we weren't thinking about having children. We just filed the information away. Then my older brother Andy got cancer and passed away in 2016,” says Lizzie. “I started thinking, “My siblings and my parents are all gone, but if we had a family of our own, we could continue on the Craze path.''
The couple thought about the best way to have a baby. They chose a surrogacy with Lizzie's best friend from college. Lizzie and her husband Jeff donated eggs and sperm through in vitro fertilization.
“We were able to genetically test all the embryos, and out of the four or five embryos we created, only one was good, but we were lucky,” she says.
Today, Lizzie's son Elliot is a rambunctious four-year-old who is always on the move. He has just mastered how to ride a two-wheeled bicycle. Like his parents, he loves to explore. “He always has a pocketful of rocks,” says Lizzie.
Lizzie and Jeff just celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary this year. They enjoy going on adventures together, including trips to far-flung places such as Australia, Tanzania, Fiji, Norway, Zanzibar, and Japan. Every Fourth of July, my family and a large group of friends go camping on a lake in California. This year, Lizzie thinks Elliot is big enough to hike the entire lake.
Same donor heart after 40 years
The fact that Lizzie hasn't needed a new donor heart for 40 years is also a big reason to cheer. It is extremely rare for a donated heart to last this long.
“As long as we can continue to use the same donor heart, I'm getting there. There are very few people who got a transplant in the early '80s and are still alive,” says Lizzie.
her time heart transplantshe was expected to live only 5-10 years, so her accomplishments are truly remarkable. We admire Lizzie's dedication to caring for her heart by minimizing the risk of infection, eating well and exercising regularly.
“When Lizzie was transplanted, we didn't really know how long our child would live with a disability. heart transplant I was able to survive. “Seeing her still doing so well 40 years later is very encouraging and gives me optimism for the future.” Dr. David Rosenthaldirector of Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Therapy (PACT) Program He is also director of the Thoracic Organ Transplant Program at Stanford School of Medicine and Child Health.
All these years later, Lizzie is still receiving heart treatment at Stanford University. As she became a young adult, she easily transitioned into: adult mental care in stanford healthcare. That's one reason her family lives in nearby Menlo Park. At each test, she hears the donor's heart beating rapidly.
Lizzie is planning a big party for Heart's 40th anniversary in October.
“I rented a suite for a San Francisco Giants game and invited a bunch of family and friends over, including relatives from the East Coast,” she says.
Live big and run strong
Lizzie has completed 35 half marathons and 6 full marathons. Each celebrates the chance of a full life after a heart transplant. She is currently training for a marathon in Southern California to commemorate Heart's 40th anniversary. “I made a shirt that said 'I had a change of heart at Stanford Hospital' on the front and '1984 Heart Transplant Patient' on the back. I wear it during marathons and bystanders talk about it. I hear people say,” she says.
Lizzie is grateful for her survival and for her strong heart.
“I was lucky. During my heart transplant, there was a magic combo that worked for me. I hope this heart will keep me going for another 40 years or more.”
For more information about heart transplants, visit Stanford Medicine Children's Health >
