Six-day-old baby is youngest U.S. heart transplant patient

A six-day old premature baby has become the youngest infant to receive a heart transplant at a U.S. hospital. Baby Oliver Crawford underwent the operation at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Arizona after being born seven weeks ahead of schedule with a heart defect which meant his parents didn’t expect him to survive.

It is amazing, after expecting the worst, Oliver is indeed a miracle.

Chris Crawford, the infant’s father

Within hours of the birth the baby was screened to see if he was healthy enough for a heart transplant. He was put on a national transplant waiting list on January 9, and two days later a viable heart became available. The operation lasted for 10 hours, after which he had an incision from his belly to his chest.

The left ventricle was huge for a 24-week-old, it was massive.

Dr. Christopher Lindblade, pediatric cardiologist

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