All Children’s Hospital Celebrates 100th Heart Transplant
Four-Year Old Recipient Now Needs a “Forever Family”

April 7, 2008 (St. Petersburg, FL) As All Children’s 100th heart transplant recipient, four-year old Anthony has already overcome long odds to get his life-saving surgery. Now he needs a permanent home.

Anthony was born with a serious heart defect that required two open-heart surgeries in the first two years of his life.  His deteriorating status led to a heart transplant, which was performed at All Children’s Hospital on March 2nd.  Anthony has been recovering at the hospital ever since.

Anthony’s March 2nd surgery was the 100th heart transplant performed at All Children’s Hospital.  The program’s first heart transplant took place on June 19, 1995. That recipient, Hunter Ratcliffe of Winter Haven, FL, is now a healthy 12-year old who still visits All Children’s transplant clinic for check-ups three times a year. Patients as young as five days old have received heart transplants at All Children’s Hospital.  Of the 100 patients transplanted, 72 have survived to date.

“We are proud to have helped children like Anthony through our heart

transplant program, “ noted All Children’s President & CEO Gary Carnes. “All Children’s Hospital is the only Florida facility with the highly specialized care and facilities required to perform these life-saving procedures on patients as small as newborns. In this time of increasing financial pressure from projected state and federal budget cuts, Anthony’s story reminds us of the need to safeguard those that provide care for the most fragile among us.”

Anthony’s medical future is looking much brighter with his new, healthy heart. But the four-year old still needs a permanent home. Currently in medical foster care, Anthony will be eligible for adoption once his medical condition stabilizes.

Jeff Rainey, President/CEO Hillsborough Kids, Inc. states, “We are grateful to the surgeons, doctors and staff of All Children’s Hospital for providing Anthony with a new chance at life.  We are immensely thankful to Anthony’s foster parents for providing the love and support Anthony needs. We look forward to his complete recovery at which time he will be available for adoption.”  

Anthony’s foster parents, Melody and Ben Rodriguez, are looking forward to getting back into a routine for his care at their Tampa home. For the time being, that will include twice-weekly trips to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg for continued monitoring of Anthony’s progress. They hope that Anthony will be medically ready for a “forever family” within six months.

Hillsborough Kids, Inc. currently has more than 600 children in its System of Care available for adoption. Families interested in details about adoption or becoming a foster parent should contact Hillsborough Kids, Inc. at  (813) 643-KIDS.