80 Year-Old to Celebrate 25th Heart Transplant Anniverary

Doris Thomas of Marseilles, IL is steadily approaching another major milestone. So far, she has :

1. become the first person to receive a heart transplant in Peoria, IL,
2. celebrated her 80th birthday, and
3. on April 27th, she will celebrate the 25th anniversary of her heart transplant.

Location map of Peoria, Illinois (Photo credit: Wikipedia

She was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy in early 1987 after collapsing while cooking in the restaurant where she worked. She had been short of breath for some time but thought it was asthma. At the time, doctors estimated she only had a 25% chance of living through 1987. She, obviously, defied those odds.

Doris has enjoyed great health since her transplant 25 years ago, except for two bouts with cancer. She has raised a grandson and met several other grandchildren, including a great-granddaughter. In regards to her good fortune, Doris is very grateful to her donor. "They gave me 25 more years," she said.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit our website at www.SaveLivesTN.org by clicking here. If you have not yet registered as an organ and tissue donor, you can learn how to do so on our website, too. Who knows, one day you might be the hero that gives someone like Doris 25 extra years of life.

Read more - pjstar.com article titled "At 80-years-old, Peorias First Heart Transplant Patient Remains a Survivor"