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‘Christmas miracles’ — Chicago surgeon performs 3 kids’ heart transplants in 4 days

Three heart transplants in 4 days. STS member Dr. Carl Backer was part of the team at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago that saved the lives of three children this holiday season. “When we put the new donor heart in, I always say ‘welcome to your new home’…It’s always a very touching moment,” said Dr. Backer.

The surgeries were part of a record-breaking year of heart transplants at the hospital. Doctors completed 34 transplants in 2019, and all were successful.

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