Today, the AWESOME is in Georgia. When Monica McFarlan said goodbye to her children, she truly believed it was the end. After 15 years of battling heart failure that made her ineligible for a traditional transplant because of high levels of harmful antibodies, she had run out of time. Then, everything changed with one question: “Have you ever heard of the HALT procedure?” HALT — which stands for Heart After Liver Transplant — is an innovative surgical strategy where a patient first receives a liver transplant, followed by a heart from the same donor. The liver essentially acts like a protective shield, absorbing harmful antibodies and reducing the risk that the new heart will be rejected. They found an excellent cross-match and performed the 16-hour surgery – the first of its kind in Georgia and only the second one performed in the United States. 3 months later, Monica has gone from hospice to thriving. Monica says it’s nice to feel like herself again and to laugh again, and THAT’S AWESOME.
