Transplant! Episode Guide

See what's coming up on Transplant!:

Transplant! - Episode 1
D.J. DiVincenzo is 6 months old and has been hospitalized most of his short life. D.J. was born with "half a heart," a condition that forces the right side of his heart to carry the whole load. His parents, Dave and Jennifer, are at the hospital every day to be with their only child. After two surgeries, D.J.'s doctors agree that a transplant is the only option. The future appears bleak. But on Christmas Eve, a call comes in that a heart is available. The heart retrieval team rushes into action, flying to a hospital in upstate New York to bring back an infant heart. Through the early hours of the morning, surgeon Jonathan Chen carefully removes D.J.'s failing heart, and replaces it with a strong new one. With tears of joy, Jennifer realizes this surgery is the ultimate Christmas gift. But now a new and agonizing wait begins: to see if Will D.J.'s tiny body will accept or reject his new heart?

Linda Flanagan is 59. Her husband of 40 years watches helplessly as Linda struggles each day to find the energy to survive. Linda had a devastating heart attack six years ago, and was declared dead for almost an hour. Today, her heart is functioning, but at only 20 percent capacity. She's been called in twice for a potential transplant, but each time the heart went to someone else. With over a year and a half on the list, Linda's antibody levels are so high that she would most likely reject every heart available. Her cardiologist tells her that she must be hospitalized to undergo a plasmapheresis treatment to suppress her immune system—and hopefully, transform her into a possible recipient again. Cameras follow her through the medical treatments—and the waiting. Will Linda get her heart in time?

Transplant! - Episode 2
Rosario Mallare was an engaging, talkative salesman for British Airways until his weakened heart left him fighting for his life. Doctors implanted a pump called a Left Ventricular Assist Device that will keep the 58-year-old alive while a donor heart is sought. When we meet him, he is barely out of surgery, and extremely weak. Over the next eight weeks, however, Rosario gradually regains his health and vigor. Now, he is healthy enough to be placed on the transplant list, and is eligible to receive a heart.

Down the hall from Rosario is Kenneth Reng, 48, husband and father of an 8-year-old son. This friendly, successful car dealer was recently rushed to the hospital with his blood pressure crashing. He is now so weak that doctors believe Ken will die within weeks without a transplant. Luckily, a heart is located in South Carolina. In a breathtaking race against time, a team of doctors makes the long trip to recover the donor heart, as surgeons back at New York Presbyterian remove Ken's diseased one.

Hospitalized at the same time, Ken and Rosario, both strong-willed and positive men, push themselves to recover. They are released on the same day—Ken with a new human heart, Rosario with a titanium pump. The prognosis for both is excellent, but within five days, one of the two organs will tragically fail.

Transplant! - Episode 3
Keith Parker is 34 years old and an aspiring rapper. But Last year, he suffered a massive heart attack, and now can barely climb the stairs to his Bronx apartment. Keith must wear a battery-powered vest that is armed to shock him should his heart fail. On top of that, he's always plugged in to an IV pump that pushes medication directly to his heart—it is the only thing that keeps it beating. His heart is so damaged that his only hope for survival is a transplant. Doctors placed him on the list last September. His chance for a new life comes from an out of state donor. We watch the incredible surgery performed by transplant surgeon Michael Argenziano and see an amazing sight: the old diseased heart and the healthy new heart side by side outside of Keith's chest.

Like any little boy, 6-year-old Sebastian Langa wants to grow up to be a fireman. But Sebastian faces difficult odds: He suffers from a rare condition called Kawasaki disease that has weakened his heart. Sebastian's parents sold everything they had and brought Sebastian to the United States from their home in Romania. His only hope now is for a heart transplant. His big chance comes late one night in January as a team of surgeons flies to Ohio to bring back a donor heart. Everything looks good while Sebastian is prepped and put to sleep for surgery. But when he wakes up hours later, will he be able to hear his new heart beating?

Natima Harry is an 8-year-old charmer. From her bright personality and persistent smile you would never guess that she has already undergone three heart surgeries and beaten the medical odds: Half the children with her congenital heart disease don't live beyond the age of 2. To survive, Natima will need the ultimate heart surgery—a transplant. We first meet Natima while she's cared for at home, but as her condition worsens Natima must be hospitalized while she continues to wait. Cameras are rolling as her mother reacts to the news that a heart is available. They also capture the heart-wrenching moment she says goodbye, as her daughter is wheeled in for transplant surgery.