Woman Celebrates 30 Years With Same Heart After Transplant

Family means the world to 76-year-old Mary Perry, and she enjoys celebrating life’s milestones with them. But there was a time when Mary wasn’t sure if she’d make it to see her grandchild’s high school graduation because of her failing heart. Years later, she’s not only been able to watch her grandchild walk down the aisle, but she’s also marked the 30th anniversary of her successful heart transplant.

“I didn't expect to live this long,” says Mary. “Now my next goal is to see my first great-granddaughter graduate. We have about four more years, and I'll make it.”

Looking back, Mary says she was in her 20s when she began experiencing shortness of breath. She didn’t think much of it because she was young and going through a stressful time in her life. That all changed when she started feeling dizzy and her right arm went numb. At 28 years old, Mary was having a heart attack.

“I was rushed to the hospital, and I ended up coming out of it. I don’t really remember much, but I was told it was a mild heart attack,” says Mary.

Trying to find a reason why she had a heart attack so young, Mary says she thought it could be due in part to her family’s history of heart issues. Over the ensuing years, Mary experienced congestive heart failure and worked with her local doctor to manage her condition. She made drastic lifestyle changes, including quitting drinking and smoking.

“My doctor told me I better give up alcohol, so I did,” says Mary. “After that, my first granddaughter turned a month old, and I quit smoking cold turkey because I wanted to see her graduate. I had the will to live. I'm a fighter.”

Mary’s next battle came when she was 40 years old. She ended up having another heart attack as well as a stroke, back-to-back. Mary’s doctor ultimately told her she needed a heart transplant and referred her to Cleveland Clinic.

“Being told I needed a heart transplant sent me for a shock. I was scared to death, but I just thought I better get some help here otherwise I'm no longer going to be on Earth,” says Mary.

Her care team at Cleveland Clinic agreed she needed a transplant, and she was placed on the transplant waiting list. It was a struggle for Mary leading up to the procedure because she’d quickly get out of breath when she tried doing anything.

“I had to walk like a snail otherwise I'd pass out. I got so weak it took all my energy to walk to the refrigerator just to make a sandwich. It was getting drastic,” says Mary, who also could no longer host her family for holidays and dinner – something she loved doing.

A heart eventually became available, and Mary underwent a successful heart transplant in May of 1994. Mary says she felt strong and was walking shortly after the procedure. “With the new heart, I felt like me again at the age of 20. I felt that great,” exclaims Mary.

Just over one week following her transplant, Mary was able to start walking one mile a day – something she didn’t think would be possible again. She was also able to spend more time with her family and get back to one of her favorite hobbies: cooking.

“The day I got home from the hospital I was able to make myself a great big thing of homemade spaghetti sauce,” says Mary. “I was lively, and I felt like I could do anything and everything I wanted to again.”

Mary got her heart transplant at 46 years old. Now, at 76 years old, the great-grandmother has not experienced any major heart complications in the 30 years and counting since her transplant.

“There’s something special about Mary,” says Eileen Hsich, MD, Mary’s cardiologist and the medical director for the Heart Transplant Program at Cleveland Clinic. “According to the latest data from the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, the median survival rate after a heart transplant is approximately 12.2 years for women and 11.4 years for men.”

Dr. Hsich says Mary’s success can be attributed to multiple factors, including her immune system and compliance with her treatment after transplant. Following each transplant, Dr. Hsich explains the patient’s care team works with them to create an individualized plan to prevent complications like transplant rejection.

“Mary has been an excellent patient, doing everything she's supposed to do,” says Dr. Hsich. “It shows how you can succeed by working with your transplant team and have a long, fulfilling life.”

Dr. Hsich adds her positive outcome also has to do with the donor heart being an excellent match for Mary. “Our team prioritizes finding a perfect match for patients on the transplant waiting list, which can significantly reduce the risk of transplant rejection and improve the patient’s overall success," says Dr. Hsich.

Mary’s heart remains strong, but she has started developing cardiac allograft vasculopathy. This condition affects transplanted hearts and causes blood vessels in the heart to narrow. Dr. Hsich explains that for patients who develop this condition, it typically occurs within the first 10 years following their transplant. Mary’s care team continues to closely monitor her heart during follow-up appointments every six months.

“I have not been hospitalized for my heart since my transplant. I'm incredibly grateful for my donor and their family. My heart is still ticking and everything's going great. I live day by day, and I'm happy as a lark,” says Mary.

After going through this experience, Mary is helping her daughter, Teresa, who also had to undergo a heart transplant in December 2023. Along with guiding Teresa through her recovery, Mary hopes her story can help others in a similar situation as well.

“Don't be afraid of heart transplants. I know there are a lot of people out there who are scared to death just like I was, but it did wonders for me. God has kept me alive all these years for a reason. I don't know what it is yet, but what the heck, I'm still here,” laughs Mary.