4-year-old suburban girl couldn't be happier: 'I got my new heart'

Four-year old Lucy Shannon has received a new heart.

Her parents had been told it could take months before a suitable donor was found, but it happened much sooner than expected.

Now, little Lucy is recovering from successful heart transplant surgery.

“I got my new heart,” Lucy said.

Her voice is still barely a whisper, but Lucy Shannon will proudly tell anyone who will listen that she's got a new heart. Eight days ago, doctors at Lurie Children's hospital performed heart transplant surgery on the 4-year-old Lombard girl. She was born with a severe cardiac condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

“She was born with only one ventricle when you are supposed to have two. So effectively, Lucy has half a heart,” said Dr. Anna Joong.

Over the last four years, Lucy had seven surgeries on her heart in hopes of correcting the condition without a transplant. She has spent much of her childhood in hospital rooms.

“Really, it's just hard to plan a life when you don't know whether you're going to be in the hospital or you don't know whether she's going to need another surgery,” said mother Betsy Shannon.

Children like Lucy typically have to wait six to eight months for a heart to become available. But she was fortunate, hers became available in one month.

Her parents say the surgery has already made a big difference.

“Oh my gosh, she was a nice shade of blue for most of her life, and now she's like this beautiful bright pink, and it’s just really cool to see,” mom said.

Lurie's policy is not to disclose a transplant donor. Doctors say the hearts last 15 to 20 years on average, but some patients who received hearts 30 years ago still have their hearts going strong.

Barring signs of rejection, Lucy could be home in six to eight weeks.

“She will be running around like the other kids on the playground, and reading books, and doing what kids are supposed to do,” Dr. Joong said.