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Cleveland Clinic’s Weston Hospital completed its 200th heart transplant when 41-year old Lauderdale Lakes resident Yanice Davis received a new heart in mid-December. Davis, who was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2017, endured multiple hospitalizations since her diagnosis and ultimately, her heart function declined to less than 15 percent. She is grateful to have received a new heart and continues to recover with the support of her large, close-knit family.
Cleveland Clinic Weston began its heart transplant program in 2014. The #1ranked hospital in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale market by US News & World Report, developed the program in close collaboration with Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, which has ranked #1 in heart care by US News & World Report for 27 consecutive years.
“In eight years, we’ve been able to give 200 patients a new heart and a higher quality of life,” said Rodolfo J. Blandon, MD, MBA, President of Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital. “This milestone not only showcases the significant growth of our transplant program, but also our expertise and ability to provide world-class care. I want to recognize and commend our dedicated team of caregivers who made this possible.”
Cedric Sheffield, MD, Surgical Director of Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support added, “Our team’s dedication to putting patients first has allowed us to transform the lives of so many families. Our program continues to grow and we look forward to many more successes on behalf of our patients in the years to come.”
Davis, originally from Jamaica, said her father also suffered from heart disease. She underwent genetic testing and was found to have genetic variants that elevated her risk for cardiomyopathy. She said she was not shocked when doctors told her she would need a new heart and credits her deep faith and her large extended family with helping her overcome the many health challenges she faced.
According to the UNOS nationwide more than 106,000 people are waiting for an organ, and on average 17 people die each day while waiting for a transplant.
About Cleveland Clinic Weston
Cleveland Clinic Weston, part of Cleveland Clinic’s Florida region, is a nonprofit, multi-specialty, academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. With locations in Weston, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Parkland, West Palm Beach, Wellington, and Palm Beach Gardens, Cleveland Clinic Weston has more than 250 physicians with expertise in 55 specialties. The medical campus is fully integrated and includes diagnostic centers, outpatient surgery and a 24-hour emergency department located in the state-of-the-art hospital. Cleveland Clinic’s Florida region now includes Cleveland Clinic Indian River and Cleveland Clinic Martin Health and has hospitals and outpatient centers in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties. The Florida region is an integral part of Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, where providing outstanding patient care is based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Physicians at Cleveland Clinic are experts in the treatment of complex conditions that are difficult to diagnose.