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Women’s Health Explained, Miami, FL (2026)

08/28/2026

When Catherine Artz was born during a blizzard in South Dakota, her parents had no idea how quickly their joy would turn into fear.

Andrea and Wyatt Artz welcomed Catherine on March 4, 2025, after what had been a completely normal pregnancy and delivery.

But just five minutes after birth, doctors noticed that Catherine’s oxygen levels were dangerously low.

She was experiencing serious heart, lung and kidney complications linked to pulmonary hypertension. Doctors needed to transfer her to a hospital with a higher level of specialized care, but the blizzard made that impossible for hours.

Once the weather cleared, Catherine was flown to Sioux Falls and admitted to Sanford Children’s Hospital.

Doctors discovered that the right side of her heart was underdeveloped and that pressure in her heart and lungs was dangerously high.

She was placed on a heart-lung bypass machine and received dialysis, but her condition continued to deteriorate.

At one point, her parents were told she might not survive the night.

A priest came to the hospital and baptized Catherine, then prayed with her family.

After that terrifying period, Catherine slowly began to improve.

Her doctors said she had “beat the odds.”

But her journey was far from over.

Catherine spent 107 days in the hospital before finally going home on June 18, 2025.

Today, she is doing well, playing outside, enjoying time with her sisters and even stopped using her feeding tube.

And now, the little girl whose life began with such uncertainty is preparing for another milestone.

Catherine is about to become a big sister.

Her mother is expecting their fourth child just eight days after Catherine’s first birthday.

From a newborn doctors feared might not survive the night to a thriving little girl preparing to welcome a sibling, Catherine’s first year has been anything but ordinary.

This story is based on reporting from PEOPLE, Sanford Health and KELO. Medical outcomes vary, and pulmonary hypertension and congenital heart conditions require individualized care from medical specialists.

08/28/2026

When Amanda LaValle’s daughter Iris was born, nothing suggested that her family was about to face a medical mystery unlike anything they had experienced before.

Iris was born after a seemingly normal pregnancy, but she struggled to breathe and spent her first week in the hospital. After going home, she continued having trouble feeding and gaining weight.

Then, at just a few months old, a reaction to a formula supplement sent Iris into shock. She developed cardiomyopathy, needed a ventilator and spent two weeks in the hospital.

Doctors still could not explain why it happened.

That uncertainty terrified Amanda, so she pushed for genetic testing.

The results changed everything.

Iris was found to have two important genetic mutations, including one associated with malignant hyperthermia and another affecting mitochondrial function. The mitochondrial mutation was extraordinarily rare. According to the family, Iris was only the sixth child identified with the specific mutation.

Even more frighteningly, Amanda learned that the other five children previously reported with the mutation had died in infancy.

Suddenly, every unexplained illness carried a different weight.

Amanda became especially vigilant. When Iris developed feeding problems, testing showed that she was aspirating liquids and could no longer safely feed by mouth. She required tube feeding and repeated hospitalizations.

Then came an even more frightening moment.

During a feeding, Iris stopped breathing and lost her pulse. Amanda performed CPR until help arrived and was able to revive her. Later, Iris experienced another serious episode requiring emergency compressions.

Today, Iris remains under intensive medical care, dealing with feeding difficulties and complications from her mitochondrial disease.

But Amanda refuses to give up hope.

At six months old, Iris was still smiling, making eye contact, babbling, rolling over and reaching for things.

Her future remains uncertain, but her mother says one thing is certain: Iris will be given every opportunity to keep fighting.

This story is based on reporting from PEOPLE. Rare genetic and mitochondrial disorders can vary significantly between individuals, so one child’s experience should not be used to predict another’s outcome.

08/28/2026

When Kristin Tyler was 20 weeks pregnant, a routine ultrasound changed everything.

Doctors discovered that her unborn daughter, Adalida, had a rare sacrococcygeal teratoma, a tumor that develops near the tailbone during fetal development.

The diagnosis was frightening because the tumor could interfere with the baby's heart, cause complications during pregnancy and even threaten her survival before or during birth.

Kristin and her husband, Jacob, began making the nearly five-hour trip from Louisiana to Texas every other week so specialists at Texas Children's Hospital could closely monitor the pregnancy. Later, Kristin moved to Houston with her mother and young son because the pregnancy had become too risky to manage from home.

As the tumor grew, Kristin struggled physically too. She needed two procedures to remove excess amniotic fluid and eventually found it difficult to walk, sleep or eat comfortably.

Doctors ultimately decided to deliver Adalida by C-section on May 21, about a month before her due date. When she was born, she weighed 10 pounds, 4 ounces, including a tumor that weighed about 4 pounds.

The mass was one of the largest her fetal surgeon had seen.

Adalida was immediately taken to the NICU. Just two days later, surgeons performed a nearly three-hour operation to remove the tumor.

Her parents couldn't hold her until eight days after birth.

After spending about five more weeks in the NICU, Adalida finally went home on June 29, her original due date.

Today, she is growing, reaching milestones and preparing to crawl. Doctors expect her to live a normal, healthy life.

What began with one terrifying ultrasound ultimately became a story of extraordinary medical care, resilience and a little girl who fought her way home.

This story is based on reporting from Good Morning America and Texas Children's Hospital. Individual outcomes can vary, and medical decisions during high-risk pregnancies should always be guided by a specialist.

08/28/2026

Lauren Fowler was born without a womb because of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, a rare condition affecting reproductive development.

For years, becoming a mother seemed impossible.

Then her sister, Kelly, offered Lauren something extraordinary.

In May 2025, Kelly became Lauren’s living womb donor. The sisters underwent transplant surgery, giving Lauren the uterus she had never been born with.

The journey was far from easy.

After initially recovering well, Lauren developed an obstruction that required two additional surgeries. She described that period as a “really hard time.” Her first attempt to become pregnant after the transplant also ended in a miscarriage at five weeks.

But Lauren did not give up.

Now, she is 26 weeks pregnant with her first baby.

Her body has not rejected the transplanted womb, and she is due to give birth by cesarean section in October.

For Kelly, the transplant created an extraordinary connection between the sisters. Her children are now eagerly waiting to meet their cousin, knowing their mother helped make the pregnancy possible.

For Lauren, the pregnancy represents the result of nearly two decades of hoping to become a mother.

A womb transplant cannot guarantee a pregnancy, and the procedure involves major surgery, medications and significant medical monitoring. But Lauren’s story shows how advances in transplantation can create possibilities that once seemed unimaginable for women born without a uterus.

After everything she has been through, Lauren is now waiting for the moment she has dreamed about for 20 years.

Finally meeting her baby.

Health disclaimer: Womb transplantation and pregnancy after transplantation are highly specialized medical procedures involving significant risks. This story is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

08/28/2026

At 20 weeks pregnant, McKenna West learned that the baby she was carrying had a rare and serious heart condition.

The baby was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a condition in which the left side of the heart does not develop normally. Doctors knew he could require lifesaving surgery soon after birth.

But this was not an ordinary pregnancy.

West was a gestational surrogate for Nausheen Gilkar and Ohmar Ahmed. After the diagnosis, the intended parents reportedly asked her to term*nate the pregnancy. West declined and continued the pregnancy.

What followed became a complicated legal battle spanning multiple states.

West moved from Alaska to Texas, where she continued her prenatal care and planned to give birth. The intended parents pursued legal action over parental rights and medical decisions, while Texas authorities became involved because of concerns that the baby might not receive the treatment doctors considered necessary after birth.

A Texas court ultimately issued an emergency order requiring lifesaving medical care for the newborn once he was born.

On August 12, 2026, West gave birth to a baby boy she named Gabriel.

His story is now about more than a difficult medical diagnosis. It has raised complicated questions about surrogacy agreements, parental rights, medical decision-making and who gets to make critical choices when a newborn needs immediate treatment.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome can require multiple surgeries beginning shortly after birth, followed by years of specialized cardiac care.

For this family, the legal battle is far from a simple ending. But Gabriel's birth marks the beginning of his fight for the chance to receive the care he needs.

Health disclaimer: This post discusses a complex medical and legal situation and is for informational purposes only. Medical decisions should always be made with qualified healthcare professionals.

08/28/2026

At just 22 weeks, Alton Krause entered the world weighing only 1 pound.

Four months before his due date, his parents, Kayla and William Krause, faced one of the most frightening moments imaginable. Alton was born at the borderline of viability, a stage when doctors know survival can be extremely uncertain.

He spent the next 142 days in the neonatal intensive care unit at Jefferson Abington.

His tiny lungs needed intensive support, including a high-frequency jet ventilator that delivered hundreds of tiny breaths every second. Day after day, his medical team worked to keep him growing and give his body time to develop.

For his parents, every day brought another reason to worry and another reason to hope.

Then came the moment they had been waiting for.

Alton finally went home.

Now weighing 12 pounds, he is meeting his milestones and growing stronger. His parents recently returned to the NICU with their son to thank the nurses and doctors who cared for him during those 142 days.

For Kayla, the reunion was especially emotional. The same Mother's Day when she learned she was pregnant last year was now the Mother's Day when she had her baby safely home.

What began with a 1-pound newborn fighting for every breath has become a story of an entire family finally getting to experience ordinary moments together.

Sometimes, coming home is the biggest milestone of all.

Health disclaimer: Premature babies can face serious medical risks, and outcomes vary greatly. This story is for educational and inspirational purposes and is not medical advice.

08/28/2026

She barely knew the woman who needed a liver, but she knew the pain her family was going through.

Jaylynne Kemerly had been living with liver disease since 2007. Over the years, her condition became increasingly difficult, bringing hospital stays, blood and iron transfusions, stomach bleeding and a dramatic decline in her quality of life.

Her daughter worked with Dr. Brianna Bayer, who watched the family struggle from the sidelines.

When Kemerly learned that none of her family members were a suitable donor match, Bayer decided to get tested.

She was a busy doctor and a mother of four, but her question was simple: “How could you not take that chance to help somebody?”

Bayer turned out to be a match.

On August 11, 2025, surgeons at Allegheny General Hospital removed about two-thirds of Bayer’s liver and transplanted it into Kemerly.

More than six months later, both women were doing well. Kemerly's body had accepted the transplant, while Bayer's remaining liver had regenerated.

The two women now jokingly call themselves “liver buddies.”

But for Kemerly, the meaning goes far beyond that.

Bayer gave her more time with her husband, children and grandchildren.

And Bayer sees the decision differently too. To her, it was simply an opportunity to help someone when she could.

Sometimes the people who change our lives aren't lifelong friends or family members.

Sometimes, they are simply someone who decides to say yes.

Health disclaimer: Living organ donation is a major medical procedure and carries risks. Anyone considering donation should speak with a qualified transplant team about their individual circumstances.

08/28/2026

At just 36 years old, Elizabeth Wehrle had already faced more than most people could imagine.

Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 11, Elizabeth underwent a double-lung transplant in 2017. But years later, complications from her condition caused severe chronic rejection of her transplanted lungs, leaving her critically ill.

Then doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital took on an extraordinarily complex challenge.

In March 2026, Elizabeth underwent what doctors described as the nation’s first known quadruple organ transplant in a patient who had previously received a lung transplant. Surgeons replaced both lungs and also transplanted a liver and kidney during the same treatment journey.

Retransplanting lungs is already extremely difficult because previous surgery can leave significant scarring and alter the normal anatomy. Adding two more organs made Elizabeth’s case exceptionally rare.

But after months of recovery, something remarkable happened.

Elizabeth began walking several miles a day.

Now, she is preparing to return home to Iowa and reunite with her son, carrying something far more valuable than a medical milestone: a second chance at life.

Her story also highlights the extraordinary impact of organ donation. Multiple people chose to donate organs that ultimately gave Elizabeth the opportunity to keep living, walking and raising her family.

Elizabeth summed it up simply: “Organ donation truly saves lives. I’m living proof of that.”

Her journey is a powerful reminder that behind every transplant is a person waiting, a family hoping and donors whose generosity can completely change another human being’s future.

Health disclaimer: This story is for educational and inspirational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.

08/28/2026

For nearly five years, WBZ photojournalist Jared Higginbotham waited for a kidney transplant.

He had been living with chronic kidney disease for a decade, using what he described as shortcuts and temporary fixes just to feel somewhat normal.

Then his coworker, Andrea Courtois, decided to do something extraordinary.

After seeing a WBZ story about living kidney donation, Andrea applied to become Jared's donor.

She went through months of medical testing, twice, without telling Jared.

She didn't want to raise his hopes until she knew the transplant could actually happen.

Eventually, Andrea was confirmed as a match.

On November 11, 2025, surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital transplanted her kidney into Jared.

Andrea recovered quickly and was home just over 24 hours later.

But Jared's recovery took an unexpected turn.

Only 48 hours after the transplant, he suffered a major cardiac event and ultimately required quintuple bypass surgery.

Through it all, Andrea stayed in contact with him.

Four months after donating her kidney, Jared finally returned to the WBZ newsroom in March 2026.

He said he felt healthier and more energetic than he had in years.

And when asked how much of that he credited to Andrea, his answer was immediate.

"In my mind, she's 100% why I feel that way."

Andrea didn't need a kidney herself.

She simply saw someone she cared about struggling and decided she could help.

Sometimes the person who changes your life isn't a stranger. They're sitting a few desks away.

08/28/2026

In September 2011, 24-year-old Australian athlete Turia Pitt was competing in a 100-kilometer ultramarathon in Western Australia when a fast-moving bushfire trapped the runners.

Turia suffered catastrophic b*rns covering approximately 65% of her body.

She was airlifted to hospital and placed in an induced c*ma.

What followed was an incredibly difficult recovery.

Over the next two years, Turia underwent more than 200 medical procedures, lost seven f!ngers and faced years of painful rehabilitation.

But through it all, her partner, Michael Hoskin, stayed by her side.

Michael eventually left his job so he could help care for Turia and support her recovery.

Their relationship became widely known because his commitment never appeared to depend on what Turia looked like.

The f!re had changed her body.

It had not changed who she was.

Turia went on to rebuild her life, become a mother, author and motivational speaker, and advocate for people living with disability and serious injuries.

Her story is powerful not because someone simply stayed after tragedy.

It's because recovery gave her the opportunity to discover that her identity was far bigger than the scars left behind.

A body can change in an instant. The person you love is still there.

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