8,000-Mile Journey to a Life-Saving Heart Transplant

It has been a long journey to health for Maha Abdulrhman, from Dubai.

When the 38-year-old’s heart issues became life-threatening, requiring a transplant, she turned to Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, over 8,000 miles away. 

Maha was diagnosed with heart failure in 2017, a latent side effect of chemotherapy she received as an 8-year-old for treatment of bone cancer.

Her condition worsened over the ensuing years, and as a qualified patient of the United Arab Emirates health system, the embassy arranged for Maha to travel overseas to Baylor St. Luke’s for treatment.

Baylor St. Luke’s provides nationally-recognized care. This year, it again received recognition from U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation’s 2025-2026 Best Hospitals. It ranked nationally as a Best Hospital in three specialties, including its Cardiology, Heart and Vascular Surgery (No. 25) service line. 

The hospital’s International Services Program stepped in to help Maha, serving as liaison between the family, the embassy and the hospital, gathering the necessary medical records, scheduling appointments and tests, and providing support 24/7. 

Kate Ouad, an international advocacy liaison at Baylor St. Luke’s, met Maha, her mother, brother and two sisters at the airport in September 2019. None of the family members spoke English, so Kate’s fluency in Arabic was most helpful. 

“Maha arrived in critical condition,” Kate said. “She was unable to walk, her lips were blue from poor oxygenation, and she was very weak, barely able to speak.” As a result of her condition, Kate arranged for Maha’s immediate admission to the hospital instead of the usual heart transplant evaluation. 

“I was nervous and exhausted. My heart condition had taken so much of my energy, and traveling such a long distance felt overwhelming. But I also felt hopeful, knowing I had finally reached the place where I might get a new chance at life,” Maha recalled.

Maha was placed on the wait list for a new heart organ. It can take months or even years for a suitable organ to become available. Two potential donor organs were identified but were ultimately declined for clinical reasons. According to Baylor St. Luke’s Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Gabriel Loor, Maha’s heart continued to worsen, and there was no clear way to know how much longer she could safely wait.

Finally, on December 18, 2019, Maha received the new heart she desperately needed in a successful surgery led by Dr. Loor and the Baylor St. Luke’s transplant team. 

It changed her life.

“Before the transplant, even simple things like walking short distances or climbing a few stairs left me breathless. I couldn’t keep up with friends or enjoy activities with my family the way I wanted,” Maha said.

Today, Maha is back in Dubai, healthy and working full-time. She follows up with the transplant team, and Kate from the International Services team checks in with her regularly.

“I feel stronger and more alive than I have in years. My energy is back, and I’m able to enjoy life again. I can walk, travel, and spend time with my loved ones without worrying that my heart will give out. I can plan for the future with excitement instead of fear,” she said.

Maha’s successful transplant reflects the exceptional commitment and advocacy of the Baylor St. Luke’s Heart Transplant Program. The team monitored her closely, coordinated continuously and pursued every viable opportunity to secure a match.

“Baylor St. Luke’s made the entire process easy and gave great support. I never felt alone, even so far from home,” Maha said.

She also expressed gratitude to her home country, the United Arab Emirates, and its leaders for facilitating this life-saving treatment. “Their care and support gave me a new chance at life and I will always be grateful.”