Nine-year-old Lauren Shields has no worries.
The sweet-faced little lady received a new heart last March after doctors at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital gave her parents, Jeanne and David, the grim news she was suffering from a severe heart ailment called myocarditis and a enlarged heart.
“It’s really good to be here and I’m really happy,” said Lauren, who danced to Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ hit song “Empire State of Mind” and ate vanilla ice cream with a healthy heart pulsating in her chest.
She joined some over sixty child heart recipients and their families to celebrate the miracle of life and science at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital yesterday. “Today is about celebrating the hospital’s 25th anniversary.”
Columbia Presbyterian performed its first pediatric heart transplantation surgery in 1984. Dr. Linda Addonizio, who is the director of the program, said the hospital has successfully completed more than 350 pediatric heart surgeries.
“The heart donors are the true heroes in this whole process,” she said. “They (child patients) grow up, get married and go to college.”
Her colleague, Dr, Jonathan Chen, said the hospital performs some 20 to 25 surgeries a year. Chen estimated that there are roughly only 150 to 200 pediatric heart surgeries performed around the entire globe each year.
“It’s an amazing day,“ said Chen, who performs a majority of the surgeries. “You don’t recognize the kids because they are changing so much. I only recognize the parents.”
Bill Reggio and his wife Judi called their four-year-old Jenna “The Christmas Baby” because last Thanksgiving doctors told them she suffered cardio myopathy and was going to die, and incredibly she received a new heart and went home with her family on Christmas Day.
“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster ride,” said Judi Reggio, who lives in Massapeua, L.I. “She’s has grown emotionally and physically. It’s a miracle.”
Anthony Pietri, 15, of Dongan Hills, Staten Island had four heart surgeries because he suffered from hypoplastic left heart syndrome before he finally had a heart transplant almost two years ago.
“I feel great,” said the upbeat ninth grader, who is a Derek Jeter fan. “I love playing baseball. I can run faster.”