MATTERS OF THE HEART: Local 13-year-old receives a heart transplant, allowing her to finally be 'a normal kid'

Katherine Massey, a 13-year-old heart transplant patient and Kennett Middle School student, was recently paid a visit by members of the KMS faculty following her surgery earlier this month. From left: Shirley Holsten, Kristy Johns, Katherine Massey, Tina Brown, Kim Johnson.
(Photo provided)

Katherine Massey, daughter of Shirley and Stephen Holsten of Kennett, was diagnosed with a heart problem at birth.

"She was born with a heart problem," said Massey's mother. "They just kept telling me, 'Oh, all she will need is a pacemaker and she will be just fine for the rest of her life.'"

Holsten said at age 8, Massey had to have a pacemaker put in. This past winter, Massey's heart took a turn for the worst.

"This past winter, she kept getting pneumonia and it attacked the weakest part of her body, which was her heart," Holsten said. "And it turned into congestive heart failure."

Holsten said in March of this year, Massey's doctor told them about a new pacemaker which was supposed to help with congestive heart failure.

"They changed out her pacemaker and put her on some medication," Holsten said. "She just kept getting worse, and about two months ago, maybe two and a half months ago, they decided the only way to help her was a heart transplant. They put her on the heart transplant list about a month ago."

Holsten said on Veteran's Day, the family got the call that a heart was ready, and Massey was rushed to St. Louis, Mo., for surgery.

"She actually went into surgery at 2 [a.m.] in the morning on [Nov. 12]," Holsten said. "She was in surgery from 2 [a.m.], until about 10 [a.m.] that morning."

After the surgery, Massey received a visit from some of her teachers from Kennett Middle School (KMS).

Tina Brown, communication arts teacher at KMS, said one of the first things Massey said to her was she was a "normal kid now."

"She has never been able to do P.E., or anything because of her pacemaker," Holsten said. "With the new heart, she doesn't need a pacemaker. Since they have taken the pacemaker out, she can do P.E. like a normal kid."

Holsten said although Massey is doing fine now, she still has a long way to go. The doctors have yet to indicate when Massey will be able to return to school.

"This is a big step, but we still have a long way to go," Holsten said. "They say the normal recovery period at this point is like six to eight months of routine check-ups in St. Louis, and biopsies. Eventually, they are going to get it down to where she has to have a biopsy once a year and see the doctor every six months. That is like a year to a year and a half away.

"They say every person has some form of rejection. As far as how acute or anything, varies from person to person. She has had her first biopsy and, at this point, she is showing no signs of rejection."

"So far, she is doing as well as can be expected," Holsten continued. "The transplant was two weeks ago and she is looking a lot better.

"She is quite literally my million-dollar kid. This one surgery was $1 million. That doesn't include all of the tests and everything that they have done before hand and trying out the other pacemaker."

Holsten said the price of the surgery doesn't matter because her daughter is "priceless."

"So far, I have had a lot of support from the school system and I would like to thank them," Holsten said. "I would like to thank everybody who has supported us. She has been through a lot and still has a lot to go."

Holsten said Massey was released from the hospital on Wednesday, just in time to spend Thanksgiving with her family.

According to Tina Brown, a fund has been set up at Senath State Bank to assist Massey's family with their medical bills.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund can contact Senath State Bank at (573) 738-2646, (573) 888-3400, or (573) 654.2393.