A New Beat: Gregory's Journey to His Second Heart Transplant

At 21, Gregory faced one of the toughest challenges of his life for a second time: He needed another heart transplant. His medical journey began from the moment he was born with multiple congenital heart defects. He received his first heart transplant at Texas Children’s Hospital when he was just 13 years old. For nearly 8 years, he enjoyed good health.  

In early 2025, Gregory went to the hospital with chest pain that he hoped was just heartburn. Instead, doctors told him his body was rejecting the heart he received as a child. The first transplant was failing, and he was immediately admitted to Texas Children’s.  

Living with an artificial heart 

Gregory’s first heart transplant was no longer strong enough to support his body and wouldn’t last long enough for him to wait for a donor heart, which can take months. To support him while he waited for a donor, Gregory received a ​​SynCardia Total Artificial Heart. For 3–4 months, a machine kept his blood pumping.  

Texas Children’s has used the Total Artificial Heart to save lives of many adolescents and young adults with an urgent need for heart transplant. It works by replacing each of the heart’s failing chambers, called ventricles, with replicas that are connected to the heart vessels inside the body and a battery-powered pump outside the body.  

Inpatient mental health support 

The Total Artificial Heart saved Gregory’s life, but it didn’t give him the same abilities as a transplant. His activities were limited, and he had to stay in the hospital, but he was able to rely on the love of his family and his desire for a healthier future to get him through the anxiety of waiting for a second heart.  

Dedicated specialists at Texas Children’s were also able to offer support. He regularly met with a team of psychologists who addressed his emotional well-being during this time of stress. An art therapist also visited him, as did the Child Life team.  

“They gave me something to do so I didn’t just think about this artificial heart that's keeping me alive,” said Gregory.  

A second new heart and the road to recovery 

After 2½ months on the Total Artificial Heart, the happy news came that a donated heart was available to him.  

Complications after the surgery kept Gregory in the hospital for an additional 3–4 months. During this time, the transplant team placed special emphasis on keeping Gregory informed about his health and the treatment plan. This commitment to education and communication helped build Gregory’s confidence in the care he received and kept his confidence that he would soon return home.  

A bright future 

Gregory is now beginning a new, freer chapter of his life.

“I was excited about just being able to go for a walk, just being out of the hospital having a little more freedom, more ability to move around,” he said.  

Gregory plans to get back to his job at a dog daycare center soon and is happily reunited with his own dog at home. 

For others facing a heart transplant or major surgery at Texas Children’s, Gregory said, “I know it seems scary and intimidating, but they are going to take care of you … Once you receive a heart, it’s the best gift you can ever receive.” 

An organ donor can save up to eight lives. To learn more and become a donor, visit Donate Life Texas or Life Gift.

Or, learn more about pediatric heart transplant at Texas Children’s.