Jevon's Story

In April 2022, then 17-day-old Owen Monroe became the world’s first partial heart transplant recipient at Duke University Hospital.  

After being born with a rare congenital heart defect and a significant leak coming from his heart, Owen needed new heart valves or a heart transplant right away. Given the timeframe for receiving a heart transplant donation, Duke doctors offered an alternative partial heart transplant option.

Owen underwent the revolutionary surgery and was able to leave the hospital with his parents about seven weeks later, proving that this new approach can save lives. 

Jevon Riley, supervisor for sterile processing, was part of the Duke care team that made the surgery a success.