Community Rallies Around Patient Awaiting Double Organ Transplant and His Family

Sarah Pilla, a reporter for Spectrum News 1, recently covered a story about the heart transplant program at the Smidt Heart Institute. Photo courtesy of Spectrum News 1.

Spectrum News 1 reporter Sarah Pilla recently interviewed Antoine Hage, MD, about Eric Grace, a Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute patient awaiting a heart and kidney transplant.

As Hage explained to Spectrum News 1, the kidney and heart Grace needs must come from the same organ donor, which often can increase the amount of time a patient waits for a lifesaving organ transplant.

“We find it easier and a lesser chance of rejection to have the patient receive both organs at the same time from the same donor,” Hage, a cardiologist in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai, told Spectrum News 1.

So, the waiting game continues for Grace.

“You never really know when it’s coming, there is no way to anticipate that… these donor matches have to be spot-on. It’s like a fingerprint,” Grace told Spectrum News 1.

As Grace awaits a perfect match, the Redondo Beach, California community where he and his family live, continue to rally behind him. Close family and friends recently held a mobile blood drive in his home town, organized by Cedars-Sinai Blood Donor Services.

“We probably couldn’t have made it this far without the support,” said Grace’s wife, Corinne. “People have been making dinners for us and wrapping their arms around us and loving us.”

And though it has been a long road for Grace, the spirit of his community and continued support of his medical team and family, has kept him going.

“We know the right heart will come at the right time for him,” said Corrine.

Click here to watch the complete Spectrum News 1 interview.