Hartford Woman Saved After Yearlong Wait Receives heart transplant at Hartford HealthCare
USA: A once-active Hartford resident, Shellane Rose, has received a lifesaving heart transplant at Hartford HealthCare after a year on the donor list, ending a period of severe heart failure that left her breathless and frequently fainting. Doctors at the system moved quickly when a donor heart became available, racing against the clock to complete a complex transplantation in a matter of hours.
Rose had been an avid CrossFit participant and vegan before her health declined. Symptoms escalated to shortness of breath, pain and repeated blackouts, and clinicians ultimately diagnosed advanced heart failure. Thoracic surgeon Dina Al Rameni led efforts to place Rose on the transplant list, initiating a tense wait filled with anticipation and anxiety while clinicians warned she might survive only a year or two without a new organ.
When notification came that a suitable donor heart had been located, the transplant team — including heart failure cardiologist Jennifer Bell — had roughly six hours to perform the operation and implant the donor organ. The new heart fit well and began to beat on its own during the procedure; surgical staff occasionally used controlled electrical stimulation when needed to restore optimal rhythm. The rapid coordination and clinical expertise of the Hartford HealthCare team were central to the successful transplantation and immediate postoperative stability.
Now nine months after surgery, Rose is progressing through cardiac rehabilitation and showing marked recovery. Clinicians report the transplanted heart is functioning strongly and that her rehabilitation trajectory is encouraging. Rose and her care team describe the outcome as a dramatic reversal from the brink of progressive heart failure, crediting persistent advocacy by her surgeons and cardiologists for securing the transplant and supporting her recovery.
Video originally published on 2026-02-16 18:35:10
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