According to the American Heart Association, every year in this country about 2300 people get a life-saving heart transplant. Their biggest fear is their body will reject the new organ. But now there's a new treatment to help prevent that. Gabby's birth sent Angela fighting for her life. After Angela got a heart transplant, she feared her immune system would attack the new organ, causing rejection.
Experts believe a treatment called photopheresis disarms the blood cells that cause rejection.
First, technicians remove certain white blood cells from the patient, combine them with a special chemical and expose them to ultraviolet light. Then, the chemical is removed and the souped-up blood cells returned to the patient. But Angela got a second heart transplant and this time there are no signs of rejection. Her life with Gabby is back on track and full speed ahead. Photopheresis holds promise to help prevent rejection of other organs, too.