Surgeons at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City performed two heart transplants within 12 hours. And the team pulled off this feat during a pandemic and amid a nationwide health care staffing shortage. “We weren’t sure we could pull off doing one transplant right after the other,” said Dr. David VanHooser, a cardiovascular surgeon at the hospital. “The problem is there’s a limited number of donors with transplantation. So when we get an offer, we hate to pass it up.”The wait for another suitable organ could have been weeks or months, he said. Oklahoma City resident Brenda Larson was the first of the heart recipients. “Oh my gosh, it was at midnight,” she said of when she found out. “’We found a heart. We think it’s perfect for you. And we’re going to, we’re going to go for it.’ And I was just, like, shaking so, so hard.”Hours later, Norman, Oklahoma, resident Billy Moss also got a heart. “Miracle from God that this team can put this together to do so terrific a job for Brenda and I,” Moss said. “He was just right after me,” Larson said. “Then we met in the hallway and then our biopsies and all kinds of steps, but it’s been fun to have somebody to walk through it with.”The two have grown closer during their shared process. “We got to know each other in the hospital, we rehab together, shared our stories,” Moss said. They even adopted a new nickname. “We’re known as the heart twins,” Moss added. “She’s a great lady and I couldn’t pick a better heart twin,” he said.The two are now living their lives to the fullest. “I’m up and about watching my grandkids play T-ball and soccer,” Larson said.The two have a message for others. “I really want to encourage people out there to be an organ donor,” Moss said.
Surgeons at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City performed two heart transplants within 12 hours.
And the team pulled off this feat during a pandemic and amid a nationwide health care staffing shortage.
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“We weren’t sure we could pull off doing one transplant right after the other,” said Dr. David VanHooser, a cardiovascular surgeon at the hospital. “The problem is there’s a limited number of donors with transplantation. So when we get an offer, we hate to pass it up.”
The wait for another suitable organ could have been weeks or months, he said.
Oklahoma City resident Brenda Larson was the first of the heart recipients.
“Oh my gosh, it was at midnight,” she said of when she found out. “’We found a heart. We think it’s perfect for you. And we’re going to, we’re going to go for it.’ And I was just, like, shaking so, so hard.”
Hours later, Norman, Oklahoma, resident Billy Moss also got a heart.
“Miracle from God that this team can put this together to do so terrific a job for Brenda and I,” Moss said.
“He was just right after me,” Larson said. “Then we met in the hallway and then our biopsies and all kinds of steps, but it’s been fun to have somebody to walk through it with.”
The two have grown closer during their shared process.
“We got to know each other in the hospital, we rehab together, shared our stories,” Moss said. They even adopted a new nickname. “We’re known as the heart twins,” Moss added.
“She’s a great lady and I couldn’t pick a better heart twin,” he said.
The two are now living their lives to the fullest.
“I’m up and about watching my grandkids play T-ball and soccer,” Larson said.
The two have a message for others.
“I really want to encourage people out there to be an organ donor,” Moss said.
