PALO ALTO, Calif-- When 2-year-old Peter Hanson of Menlo Park received his heart transplant last Friday (4) at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, not only was his life saved by the heroic donation of a family in grief, but the surgery also capped an unprecedented 36 hours of heart transplant activity at the hospital.
 
The drama started on Thursday (3) morning when a beautiful 6-year-old named Sierra Bingham was in desperate need of a heart transplant. Parents Stacy and Jason were stunned by Sierra’s worsening condition. “She might not make it one more day,” said David Rosenthal, MD, Director of the Pediatric Heart Failure Program. Meanwhile, a few doors down, 3-year-old Benjamin Thornton, though a bit more stable, also needed a new heart to live. The Binghams, Thorntons and Hansons were among nine families awaiting the bittersweet gift of donated hearts, an abnormally high number.
 
Then the dramatic call came. A heart that was a match for Benjamin was available. Benjamin’s dad Gary, a Sonoma County sheriff, and mom Angel could not believe it. “We were extremely excited,” said Gary, “and words cannot express how grateful we felt.” At 5am, Benjamin went into surgery and returned seven hours later with a new heart.
 
What about Sierra? During Benjamin's surgery, doctors at Packard made the difficult decision to place Sierra on mechanical heart support in a last-ditch, uncertain bid to save her life. While preparing her for transfer to this device, another call came in. A matching heart for Sierra was available. At 5pm, Sierra went into surgery and came out with a new heart later that night. Two pediatric heart transplants in 24 hours? “This was very, very rare,” said Rosenthal, who noted, “We only did 11 heart transplants during all of 2005.”
 
Later in the hallway, the two families cried and embraced and developed what will be a lasting bond. For the Binghams, from Haines, OR, there was an extra dimension to their many emotions. Mom Stacy will deliver a little brother for Sierra at Packard in October. Sierra, who plans to start first grade at the hospital school this fall, will likely be there to greet him.
 
It was a thrilling and emotional day, but there was more to come. On Friday, Peter, who almost succumbed three days earlier, received his new heart. Three heart transplants in 36 hours, all performed by the same surgeon, another extraordinary display of stamina and skill that is commonplace for Bruce Reitz, MD, the Norman E. Shumway Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery. “We don’t know if this has ever occurred nationally, but it certainly is unprecedented at Packard,” said Rosenthal.
 
What does it mean for the other families at Packard whose children still await new hearts? “It’s absolutely awesome,” said Michelle Jackson, mom of 17-month-old Devin Becerril. The toddler, on the verge of walking and crawling, spends his days “playing with toy cars and throwing things, just like any other boy.” For Jackson, the wait continues, but with renewed faith. “Hearing about these transplants is tremendous and really makes me feel hopeful.”
 
Families are available for interviews and photos

About Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
Ranked annually as one of the best pediatric hospitals in the nation by U.S.News & World Report , Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford is a 264-bed hospital devoted to the care of children and expectant mothers. Providing pediatric and obstetric medical and surgical services and associated with the Stanford University School of Medicine, Packard Children's offers patients locally, regionally and nationally the full range of health care programs and services — from preventive and routine care to the diagnosis and treatment of serious illness and injury. For more information, visit www.lpch.org.