3-Year-Old Was 'Born with a Broken Heart.' But After Rare Surgery Helped Save His Life, He Has a 'Heart Brother' (Exclusive)
One heart donation helped save three children at a New York City hospital last July following a "rare" group of surgeries that took place within 24 hours
In February, the two little boys got to meet the 11-year-old girl who donated her healthy heart valves to them
'She was happy to see the boys healthy,' John Catoliato's mom tells PEOPLE of the emotional meeting
Two little boys are now 'heart brothers" after one donated heart allowed doctors to perform a 'rare' surgery that helped save the lives of three children in total.
In February, Hend Almesafri, 11, met John Catoliato, 2, and Teddy Carter, 3, the two boys she donated her healthy heart valves to last summer after receiving a heart donation herself. The meeting took place in the New York City hospital where their split-root domino heart transplant was performed.
'She was just happy and grateful to be alive,' John's 38-year-old mom, Joanne Dowling, tells PEOPLE. 'She was happy to see the boys healthy.'
Dowling wanted to bring a gift for the little girl, but didn't know what would be appropriate. "What do you get a person that saved your son's life?" she asks.
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On July 25, 2024, Hend underwent surgery to receive a donated heart at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of Children's Hospital of New York. The doctor who performed the difficult procedure, Dr. David Kalfa, then completed an aortic valve transplant on Teddy, who received one of Hend's healthy valves from her explanted heart. Meanwhile, Dr. Andrew Goldstone, conducted a pulmonary valve transplant on John.
The connected procedures were all done within a 24-hour window by the lead doctors and a fleet of medical personnel.
'A split-root domino partial heart transplant is extremely rare and has been performed only a handful of times – and up until this operation, never in the Northeast,' says Goldstone.
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For the families, the hours-long wait was a 'minefield of emotions,' but they were all elated to hear that the surgeries were successful.
The procedures were integral to the children's health and quality of life. The muscles of Hend's heart were weak, while Teddy was born with aortic stenosis, a condition in which the aortic valve is obstructed.
As for John, he was born with truncus arteriosus, which means he only had one vessel exiting his heart instead of two, and had a hole in his heart.
Related: Utah Mom Donates Kidney to Stranger She Met Hiking: 'It's a Modern Day Miracle'
For Katie Carter, the surgery was the 'miracle' she and her husband had been wishing for so their son will hopefully no longer need more surgery as he gets older.
Instead, the new valves will most likely be able to grow with both boys.
Related: Nurse Provides Life-Saving Transplant to 5-Year-Old Girl: Her Daughter: 'I Did What Any Mother Would Do'
John and Teddy both spent more than a week in the hospital to recover — and once at home, the couples shared notes about their sons' experiences. The boys each had night terrors for months following the surgeries, but are now fully recovered.
Teddy is doing 'amazing,' says Katie, 42. 'We had a scan last week and they told us it looks like a child who never had surgery."
'He's back to being a wild, crazy child,' she adds with a smile.
John is also acting like a healthy, active kid. 'You can't tell him he's a CHD [congenital heart disease] baby or a transplant child,' says Tom Catoliato, 41, who says his son jumps, plays, throws tantrums and runs like any other kid.
'It's nice to see the normal behavior of a 2-year-old,' he adds, 'as opposed to thinking that you have a child that could be sick.'
The parents are grateful for the person whose donated heart was received by Hend, allowing her to help their sons. They're also thankful for the doctors and staff who gave the boys hearts that will grow with them. As Teddy says, 'I was born with a broken heart, now it's fixed.'
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