When Rodney was just 35 years old, his primary care physician at another health system noticed he had a heart murmur and diagnosed Rodney with moderate mitral valve prolapse. Rodney’s condition—in which one of the heart’s valves doesn’t close properly and allows blood to back up into the heart—seemed manageable. He continued regular checkups and stayed active by hiking, interval training, and scuba diving. He was living life without major limitations or symptoms.  

When Paige’s water broke at 37 weeks pregnant, she was ready to meet her baby. It was a markedly different feeling from earlier in her pregnancy, when, at 25 weeks gestation, Paige underwent a surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital to repair a defect in her baby’s spine. With tears in her eyes, Paige was wheeled back to the operating room, hoping that doctors wouldn’t have to deliver her baby early because of the procedure.

Last year, St. Louis mom Sara Schwartz discovered she was pregnant with not one but two babies –– identical twin girls. Schwartz, who was already a mother of three (to children ages 12, 11 and 9) felt excited about her “bonus babies” on the way, despite it being a high-risk pregnancy.

Growing up, Christopher Bryant couldn’t compete in sports or run due to a heart murmur. When he tried to keep up with the other kids, he’d pass out. At 9 years old, Chris underwent heart surgery and doctors discovered he had a bicuspid aortic valve, a congenital heart defect. He learned to take care of himself due to his condition, but his symptoms — like swelling in his lower extremities — only worsened. Eventually, he learned he had severe heart failure.

The paired-kidney exchange program saved the lives of Pat Conway and Marti Simon. Two pairs of prospective donors and recipients are matched together to "exchange" donor kidneys.