Dafna Bar-Sagi, PhD Executive Vice President and Vice Dean for Science, Chief Scientific Officer | NYU Langone Hassenfeld Children's Hospital
Dafna Bar-Sagi, PhD Executive Vice President and Vice Dean for Science, Chief Scientific Officer | NYU Langone Hassenfeld Children's Hospital
Nevaeh Tyus, a 2-year-old from Somerset, New Jersey, marked the second anniversary of her heart transplant at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone. She was joined by her care team, including doctors, nurses, child life specialists, and music therapists from the Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care.
"Nevaeh was in dire need of a new heart," said Dr. T.K. Susheel Kumar, who performed the transplant. "To see her two years later as a healthy, happy child is quite rewarding."
At five months old, Nevaeh showed signs of heart failure and was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) by Dr. Rakesh Singh and his team. DCM is a congenital defect that affects the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.
After being admitted to the hospital on December 30, 2022, it became evident that Nevaeh needed a new heart. Her mother Leshonda Armstrong expressed gratitude for the medical team: "I could not have wished for a better team for Nevaeh."
Nevaeh was placed on the United Network of Organ Sharing list on January 11, 2023. A donor heart became available less than two weeks later on January 25—Leshonda's birthday—and Nevaeh underwent successful surgery on January 26.
While waiting for her transplant, Melissa Wasserman recorded Nevaeh’s original heartbeat and later inserted both pre- and post-transplant recordings into a teddy bear for Nevaeh to keep.
"This gives children and families the opportunity to commemorate their new heart," said Wasserman.
A year after her transplant, Nevaeh experienced symptoms leading to a diagnosis of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), managed by Dr. Singh and Dr. Gloria P. Contreras Yametti through targeted treatments.
Today, Nevaeh enjoys dance classes and family celebrations. "You would never know that she had been sick," said Leshonda.
In February 2025, they returned to celebrate two years with her new heart at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital with her care team.
Leshonda remains grateful to the donor's family: "They are forever grateful for Nevaeh receiving the gift of life."
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