Family's joy as girl, 5, gets a new heart for Valentine's Day after waiting for nearly three years



A five-year-old girl has been given a new heart in time for Valentine's Day after being on the donor list for two years and seven months.



Katy Murphy, from Wakefield, Massachusetts, was born with a heart defect that has left her unable to grow or attend school full-time, and her mother feared she would not survive another six months.



But earlier this week, the Murphy family got the call from doctors to say they had a 'perfect' heart for the young girl, and on Wednesday she underwent a successful five-hour surgery.

On Thursday - Valentine's Day - she opened her eyes.

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In time for Valentine's: Katy Murphy, pictured with her dad Mike, had a heart transplant on Wednesday

'When I saw Katy for the first time she looked so much better than I expected and I'm just relieved and thankful,' her father, Mike Murphy told CBS Boston .

'A heart means that our daughter is going to be around a lot longer than she was going to be.'

Katy had a 1A status as a transplant recipient, which meant she was the highest-level priority on the waiting list - but because of her tiny size, she faced a long wait for an organ that would match.

In October last year, she was rushed to the Boston Children's Hospital with congestive heart failure.

She went on to become the first 1A child patient to be able to live at home rather than in a hospital - but it left her parents, Mike and Amiee, on tenterhooks.

Relief: Katy's parents Mike and Amiee, pictured, said their daughter is doing well after the five-hour surgery

Fighter: Katy, pictured with her brother Patrick, had been waiting two years and seven months for a heart

'It's one of those things when every time the phone rings at night, you wonder if it's the call,' her father told WHDH . 'Always having a bag packed, always worrying, "Do I have my phone on me at all times?" And you're constantly worrying that you’re going to run out of time.'

Her mother said that Katy had sometimes been able to attend school but was mostly unable to do things other children her age enjoy.

But the condition has not stopped Katy from being a positive, energetic five-year-old, who is filmed giggling alongside her brother Patrick on their mother's YouTube channel.

Amiee said that the family had put wagers on when Katy would get her new heart, and the young girl picked February 14th.

New life: Katy, pictured, will now be able to attend school, play sports and will begin to grow more quickly



Excited: Katy is pictured grinning just hours before her heart transplant on Wednesday

On Wednesday afternoon, on a Facebook page set up for Katy's supporters, Mike wrote: 'Katy came through the surgery with flying colors. She is resting in ICU and doing great.

'The new heart is beating strongly and the lungs are adjusting better than expected.'

Dr. Kevin Daly said Katy's wait for a transplant is the longest he can remember, but said he prognosis is good.

'She should be able to get back to normal kid things. She can go to school, she can play sports and she will grow,' Dr. Daly said.

Joy: Her parents Mike and Amiee said they were grateful to the family who donated the tiny heart

Katy's parents said they are thankful to the family who donated the heart, and pray for them - knowing that they lost a child to allow Katy to stay alive.

'We know they're in their grief right now, but we are thankful that they made this gift to our child,' Mike said.



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