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Transplant Triumph?

Aired February 20, 2003 - 13:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A teenage girl is fighting to survive after another heart and lung transplant. The first operation nearly killed her, because the organs the doctors inserted were the wrong blood type.
CNN's Elizabeth Cohen standing by live in Durham, North Carolina, where the second operation is now over -- Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, you can only imagine the emotional roller coaster that this family has gone through. Right now, they're on the upswing. Her heart and lungs are working, according to a family friend, and she is off life support. This is certainly the best news that her family could have received.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a family that has tremendous faith, and they have been free-falling on grace and faith all week, and they see this as a gift from God, and that's just what it is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: Now, of course, we do have to say, however, that this is good news, but this family is not out of the woods yet. Heart and lung transplants are very rare, and people often do not survive them. Doctors have to watch for many things. Her other organs might start to shut down. She might suffer an infection because she needs to be an immunosuppressant drugs. So this family is still hopeful, but still watching -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: I was amazed, listening to the spokesperson talk about how this family has been getting so many calls. Other parents wanting to donate, you know, the organs. It's just amazing, the personal stories.

COHEN: It is amazing. The organ bank here said they've been barraged with calls. One elderly woman called and said, I've lived a long life. If my organs might help Jessica, I want to give them to her.

PHILLIPS: Wow, gives you chills. Elizabeth Cohen, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired February 20, 2003 - 13:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A teenage girl is fighting to survive after another heart and lung transplant. The first operation nearly killed her, because the organs the doctors inserted were the wrong blood type.
CNN's Elizabeth Cohen standing by live in Durham, North Carolina, where the second operation is now over -- Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, you can only imagine the emotional roller coaster that this family has gone through. Right now, they're on the upswing. Her heart and lungs are working, according to a family friend, and she is off life support. This is certainly the best news that her family could have received.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a family that has tremendous faith, and they have been free-falling on grace and faith all week, and they see this as a gift from God, and that's just what it is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: Now, of course, we do have to say, however, that this is good news, but this family is not out of the woods yet. Heart and lung transplants are very rare, and people often do not survive them. Doctors have to watch for many things. Her other organs might start to shut down. She might suffer an infection because she needs to be an immunosuppressant drugs. So this family is still hopeful, but still watching -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: I was amazed, listening to the spokesperson talk about how this family has been getting so many calls. Other parents wanting to donate, you know, the organs. It's just amazing, the personal stories.

COHEN: It is amazing. The organ bank here said they've been barraged with calls. One elderly woman called and said, I've lived a long life. If my organs might help Jessica, I want to give them to her.

PHILLIPS: Wow, gives you chills. Elizabeth Cohen, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com