Paying it forward, Abbott HeartMates style

In the fall of 2020, MacKenzie Maddry was a vibrant eighth grader in Bella Vista, Ark., juggling soccer, track and orchestra. But a painful bump on her leg turned out to be something far more serious than a suspected sports injury. By December, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer.

Maddry’s life changed overnight. At just 14 years old, she endured 21 cycles of chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, including the removal of part of her femur, which was replaced with a cadaver bone to preserve her mobility. Despite setbacks in recovery, she remained resilient, taking nightly walks with her family to rebuild strength.

But the cancer treatments had side effects. In October 2022, Maddry was diagnosed with end-stage heart failure due to chemo-induced dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that left her heart unable to pump blood effectively. She was admitted to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital and became the first pediatric patient in that state to go home with Abbott’s HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

Then came the wait – and hope – for a heart transplant.

When Abbott HeartMates kicked off with a high-profile Draft Day experience in early 2024, Maddry was one of the first 11 heart health champions drafted to the inaugural HeartMates team. It was then that she met fellow HeartMates draftees Lakeisha Brown and Alicia Nicoletti, and a deep friendship was born.  

Two months later, the call her family had been waiting for finally came: a donor heart was available. Within two days, Maddry underwent a successful heart transplant. Recovery brought new freedoms, both small (being able to take a bath) and significant (attending her senior prom and graduating from high school this past May).

Now, Maddry is channeling her experience into advocacy and service. Inspired by the care she received during her heart health journey, she is a passionate advocate for young cardio patients and currently pursuing her dream of becoming a pediatric nurse. In fact, she had to juggle her first days of classes with filming her scene in the original Hallmark Channel movie “The More the Merrier” alongside four of her fellow HeartMates and community ambassador Damar Hamlin.    

You’ve been a part of Abbott HeartMates since the very beginning. What has being a member of this community been like for you?

It has been amazing. Some of my closest friends have come from joining this program. I met both Mrs. Alicia and Mrs. Lakeisha at Draft Day in 2024, and we are all really close now. It’s so important to have people around you that have gone through similar experiences. We could talk about heart failure symptoms on our worst days, and celebrate what we were able to accomplish on our best days. Mrs. Lakeisha and I both had LVADs when we had first met, and we had our heart transplants pretty much back to back. So not only did we share the struggle on living on batteries, but I got to give her advice before she went into her transplant surgery.

What would a community like Abbott HeartMates have meant to you when you were in the most serious part of your heart health journey?

Being a part of HeartMates has helped me be more confident and allowed me to take charge more. It’s also helped me appreciate how important it is to have someone who understands what you are going through cheering for you on the sidelines. Thanks to HeartMates, I had people like that during my heart transplant, but it would have been wonderful to have that during my heart failure diagnosis.

What have been your sources of strength on your heart health journey?

I draw a lot of strength from the people around me, my family and my friends. Having people check on me, whether that was a physical visit or just getting a text, meant a lot. 

What was your favorite part of being set and shooting your scene with Damar and the other HeartMates?

It was really cool to meet new HeartMates and see some familiar faces. I think filming the scene itself was the best part – everyone brought so much energy! Damar really made it Christmas in September!  

Your comeback story is nothing short of remarkable. What’s your message to others who are just starting their recovery?

One thing I would say is give yourself grace and time. There is a lot about having heart disease that is hard, and you may face many changes: managing new meds, medical appointments, feeling fatigued and not being able to do as much as you once did. While it’s important to give it your best, it’s just as important to allow yourself rest. Rest is one of the best healers. 

The Abbott HeartMates program is a community established by Abbott to offer support to people impacted by cardiovascular conditions, along with their families and caregivers. The program enables participants to share stories and receive emotional support as well as connect with others going through similar heart health journeys. Visit the Abbott HeartMates hub for more information.