HOUSTON, TX -
For the first time ever, doctors at Texas Children's Hospital attempt a rare, triple transplant surgery.
It's only the third surgery of its kind done on a pediatric patient in the U.S.
The 17-year-old has suffered from cystic fibrosis since she was a little girl.
Over the years the disease severely damaged her lungs, liver and heart - all of which had to be replaced at the same time.
"I was scared because I never heard of it, I knew I needed a transplant, but not three," said Taylor Sherrouse.
The chronic disease typically affects the lungs, but in Taylor's case she not only had liver scarring, but a complication that also damaged her heart.
It was diagnosed during her most recent hospitalization last November - one that has kept her there ever since.
"It's hard, I mostly miss my family," she said.
"Taylor was oxygen dependent, she had to struggle to walk," said Dr. George Mallory, the pediatric pulmonologist at Texas Children's.
Doctors debated for months if they should attempt such a massive procedure, but as Taylor's organs and health continued to deteriorate, the doctors knew time was running out.
In order to do the transplant she had to be healthy, but that wasn't the only challenge.
"She had to be listed on heart list, lung list and liver list," Dr. Mallory said.
Anyone familiar with organ donations knows the wait can be months or more, and the organs have to be a good match.
But all odds were on her side, after just 11 days the call came from a single donor - which was the best case scenario.
"Since she was being offered the lungs it ended up the heart and liver came along," said Dr. Mallory.
"I was ready to go to bed at the time," recalls Taylor.
June 22 she went into the operating room around 1 A.M.
Dozens of doctors worked for some 15 hours -
"We're coordinating at the same time , it's not only physicians here, but we send a team both the heart team liver team and lung team out to retrieve the donor organs," said Dr. Jeff Heinle, surgical director of Texas Children's heart and lung transplantation program.
"The remarkable thing is how Taylor recovered from all of this," said Dr. Charles Fraser
During a press conference Wednesday, doctors showed pictures of Taylor walking just a week after surgery.
On June 30 she was able to celebrate her 17th birthday.
"The outlook is a lot more positive now than it was, now we're looking way into the future where we weren't looking that far before," said Taylor's dad Luke.
"I feel very lucky - I feel very grateful actually," Taylor said.
Taylor is getting her energy and appetite back. She is looking forward to going home for the first time in eight months this weekend or early next week. There is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis.
If you are interested in learning more about CF clickhere or organ donation click here.
It's only the third surgery of its kind done on a pediatric patient in the U.S.
The 17-year-old has suffered from cystic fibrosis since she was a little girl.
Over the years the disease severely damaged her lungs, liver and heart - all of which had to be replaced at the same time.
"I was scared because I never heard of it, I knew I needed a transplant, but not three," said Taylor Sherrouse.
The chronic disease typically affects the lungs, but in Taylor's case she not only had liver scarring, but a complication that also damaged her heart.
It was diagnosed during her most recent hospitalization last November - one that has kept her there ever since.
"It's hard, I mostly miss my family," she said.
"Taylor was oxygen dependent, she had to struggle to walk," said Dr. George Mallory, the pediatric pulmonologist at Texas Children's.
Doctors debated for months if they should attempt such a massive procedure, but as Taylor's organs and health continued to deteriorate, the doctors knew time was running out.
In order to do the transplant she had to be healthy, but that wasn't the only challenge.
"She had to be listed on heart list, lung list and liver list," Dr. Mallory said.
Anyone familiar with organ donations knows the wait can be months or more, and the organs have to be a good match.
But all odds were on her side, after just 11 days the call came from a single donor - which was the best case scenario.
"Since she was being offered the lungs it ended up the heart and liver came along," said Dr. Mallory.
"I was ready to go to bed at the time," recalls Taylor.
June 22 she went into the operating room around 1 A.M.
Dozens of doctors worked for some 15 hours -
"We're coordinating at the same time , it's not only physicians here, but we send a team both the heart team liver team and lung team out to retrieve the donor organs," said Dr. Jeff Heinle, surgical director of Texas Children's heart and lung transplantation program.
"The remarkable thing is how Taylor recovered from all of this," said Dr. Charles Fraser
During a press conference Wednesday, doctors showed pictures of Taylor walking just a week after surgery.
On June 30 she was able to celebrate her 17th birthday.
"The outlook is a lot more positive now than it was, now we're looking way into the future where we weren't looking that far before," said Taylor's dad Luke.
"I feel very lucky - I feel very grateful actually," Taylor said.
Taylor is getting her energy and appetite back. She is looking forward to going home for the first time in eight months this weekend or early next week. There is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis.
If you are interested in learning more about CF clickhere or organ donation click here.
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