Meet George
George likes to explore outdoors, be silly and spend time with his family and dogs.
After having two heart transplants, spending more than 250 days in the Hospital before turning four and countless pokes and procedures, George has shown resilience through his kind, humorous and happy personality.
George is an adventurous boy who loves being outdoors, whether he is bike riding, swimming, skiing or sledding! At just five months old, George was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy — a heart condition that reduces the heart’s ability to pump properly. At nine months old, George received a heart transplant at the Stollery and did great!
Shortly after George turned two, he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, which led to his anti-rejection medication not absorbing into his body properly, ultimately causing George’s body to reject his transplanted heart. After spending eight months at the Stollery waiting for another heart transplant, George received the ultimate gift for a second time when he had his second heart transplant in January 2020.
With George having two heart transplants before turning five years old, his family has spent a great deal of time at the Hospital. They’re grateful to have the Stollery — the hub for pediatric heart surgery in Western Canada — right in their backyard.