Tracy Meyer, a Grand Rapids native, is celebrating survival this American Heart Month after overcoming heart failure. In the summer of 2023, she was diagnosed with heart failure caused by radiation treatments from cancer she battled at ages 18 and 24. She never expected to face such a life-threatening condition but remained determined to push through.
To keep her heart functioning, Tracy first received a mechanical heart pump, a temporary solution that acted as her lifeline. Just a week later, she was placed on the transplant list. In April 2024, she received a new heart, and her cardiologist, Dr. Melena Yanni, confirmed the procedure went flawlessly. Now, Tracy is embracing life with a renewed purpose.
A longtime fan of the Grand Rapids Griffins hockey team, Tracy had won a contest to see them play in Chicago just days before receiving her transplant. However, when she got the call that a donor heart had been found, she immediately canceled her trip, emailing the team to say she had a life-changing procedure ahead. Two weeks after surgery, Griffins players visited her in the hospital, and now they have surprised her with the opportunity to drop the puck at a game.
Her journey has inspired many, including the players who admire her strength and resilience. Tracy, filled with gratitude, encourages others to consider organ donation, knowing firsthand that it saved her life. As she nears the end of her first year of post-transplant testing, she hopes her story will give others hope.
