KANKAKEE, Ill. — This Thanksgiving will be a holiday Courtney Kidd will never forget — even though she might not remember much of it.
Kidd, 32, has suffered serious health problems since birth. On Monday, the Bourbonnais, Ill., woman underwent 18 hours of surgery to complete liver and heart transplants at Mayo Clinic Hospital - Saint Marys Campus.
If all goes well, Courtney could return to her parents' home in Bradley, Ill., before March is over, said Courtney's mother, Annie Kidd
However, before anyone dreams too much of home, Courtney must go through two weeks of nearly constant observations at the hospital and another three months of daily monitoring to make sure the new organs are not being rejected by her body.
It was about 10 p.m. Sunday when
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Courtney first learned she was in line for the transplant procedure at 10 p.m. Sunday. Her surgery began at about 6 a.m. Monday. A surgical team of 30, including one general surgeon, two heart surgeons, and a liver surgeon, performed the delicate procedure.
Having arrived at the clinic only 30 days ago, Courtney was not expecting to be notified this quickly of a proper match.
"It's all so unbelievable," Annie Kidd said. "We are all so excited. We're going to have a good Thanksgiving for sure. This is a miracle for sure."
The family knows little about who donated the organs. But Annie Kidd knows that for her daughter to get these transplants, someone had to die.
She said that while they were excited, they are aware another family is suffering.
"I just look at it as this is the way it's supposed to be," Annie Kidd said.
Courtney had been prepared to wait six to 12 months for a transplant. When she was placed on the waiting list, her heart was functioning at only about 20 percent capacity.
She received emergency heart surgery at birth and again at ages 6, 12 and 20.
