1st Heart Transplant at IMC

Many of our friends and family know of Ryan's aspiration to become a cardiotheracic surgeon. Before starting medical school Ryan worked for 3 1/2 years in the operating room at LDS hospital. He worked closely with many of the finest heart surgeons in the area. Since starting medical school in August Ryan was able to continue working in with some of these doctors through Intermountain Donor Services as part of his social medicine community practicum. Through this he has been able to go in and participate in transplant surgeries again. (Heaven for Ryan) A few weeks ago Ryan got the opportunity to fly to Montana to procure a heart, with Dr. Bruce Reid, one of Ryan's favorites. They flew almost to Canada to some tiny town in Montana on a little jet plane, got to ride in an ambulance. The actual procurement was not the most eventfull procedure he had been involved with but the overall experience was exciting. Later we found out that this was actually the 1st heart transplant performed at the newly opened Intermountain Hospital.
The transplant was a success and the man is doing well. It is fun stories like these that keep me going when I am stuck in a small, dark, apartment in the winter with sick kids.