In a remarkable medical breakthrough, one donor heart has helped save the lives of three young girls in what doctors are calling a groundbreaking “domino transplant.” This innovative procedure at Duke University Hospital highlights American medical ingenuity at its finest and brings hope to families of children with heart defects nationwide.
At a Glance
- Three young girls from North Carolina were saved through a revolutionary “domino” heart transplant procedure
- Journi Kelly, 11, received a new heart while her original heart’s valves were used to help two other girls
- The procedure marked the world’s first living mitral valve replacement using a valve from a heart transplant donor
- Traditional pediatric heart valve replacements require multiple surgeries as children grow
- The living valves are expected to grow with the recipients, eliminating the need for future operations
Groundbreaking Procedure Saves Three Young Lives
Doctors at Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center performed a revolutionary heart transplant procedure that saved the lives of three young girls using just one donor heart. Eleven-year-old Journi Kelly, whose heart was functioning at only 12%, received a complete heart transplant. In an innovative twist, surgeons then used Journi’s original heart valves to help two other girls with heart defects, creating a life-saving chain reaction that maximized the gift of organ donation.
The procedure, which took place on February 27, 2025, was led by Dr. Joseph Turek and Dr. Douglas Overbey. It marks the first time surgeons have performed a living mitral valve replacement, building on Duke’s pioneering work with partial heart transplants that began in 2022. The medical team’s innovative approach addresses a critical need in pediatric cardiac care, where available treatment options have historically been limited.
Reporting for TODAY, NBC's Kate Snow spotlights the remarkable life-saving surgery that saved three young girls after doctors at Duke University performed a unique new surgery they call a "domino transplant," that allows them to save multiple lives. https://t.co/GDUcrvWS9Y
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 27, 2025
This is huge news because traditional heart valve replacements for children have significant limitations.
“There’s not a good valve option for kids,” said Dr. Douglas Overbey. “They all require multiple surgeries, and we know they’re going to fail down the road.”
This innovative approach using living tissue that can grow with the child offers a potential solution to this long-standing challenge in pediatric cardiac care.
Journi’s mother, Rachel Kinsey, described the terrifying progression of her daughter’s condition.
“Her symptoms became full throttle to the point that she passed out and her eyes rolled in the back of her head,” Kinsey told TODAY’s Kate Snow. “That’s when doctors were like, ‘We need to test other organs’.”
The two other beneficiaries of this remarkable procedure were 14-year-old Margaret Van Bruggen, who needed a new mitral valve after a staph infection caused endocarditis, and 9-year-old Kensley Frizzell, who required a replacement for her small aortic valve. Both girls received living valve tissue from Journi’s original heart, which doctors expect will grow with them and potentially eliminate the need for future surgeries.
All three girls are now recovering well from their procedures. Margaret and Kensley have already returned to school, while Journi is looking forward to a vacation as she continues her recovery.
The success of this procedure opens the door for similar operations in the future, potentially benefiting countless children who face repeated surgeries under traditional treatment approaches.
This is what we call American exceptionalism!
