One Year After Life-Saving Heart And Kidney Transplant, Mother-Grandmother To Walk Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular 5K

Grandmother Marks One-Year Milestone After Receiving heart And kidney Transplants

USA: A Charlotte grandmother is celebrating one year since receiving both a heart and a kidney transplant, a dual lifesaving procedure that reversed years of declining health. The woman, a long-time worker and devoted family matriarch, has spent the past year rebuilding strength and enjoying time with her grandchildren.

Her medical history included thyroid cancer 15 years ago and a viral illness that ultimately led to heart failure. Two years ago she was diagnosed with marginal zone lymphoma and her heart function deteriorated rapidly; her chronic kidney disease progressed in tandem until both organs required replacement. Clinicians moved her onto the transplant pathway as her condition worsened.

Surgeons accepted a heart and a kidney procured from the same donor, and the double transplantation allowed her to return to a level of health she did not expect to reach again. Now one year out, she says the recovery has been dramatic and she is thriving, with renewed appreciation for daily life and family time.

Tomorrow she will walk in the Sanger heart & Vascular Center’s heart transplant 5K, organized by Atrium Health, with her grandchildren at her side. The event raises money for heart transplantation and helps patients facing financial barriers to care, underscoring the continuing need for organ donation and support for transplant patients.

Video originally published on 2026-05-08 19:17:18