Lacy Cornelius Boyd was just 38 years old when her life changed forever. On a family road trip to the Grand Canyon, their car hit a patch of black ice, sending them spinning out of control. In an instant, Boyd's world went from excitement and joy to chaos and pain.
The crash left Boyd with broken bones in her neck and ribs, a collapsed lung, and severe injuries to her intestines – all caused by a too-tight seatbelt. The damage was so extensive that doctors had to perform six surgeries in just five days. But the intestinal damage persisted, threatening Boyd's very survival.
With no other option left, Boyd turned to an unlikely solution: an intestinal transplant. The surgery itself took about 12 hours and marked a turning point in her long and arduous recovery. What many might consider a high-risk procedure, intestinal transplants are indeed rare, with only around 100 performed annually in the US.
The risks involved are significant, with patients facing rejection and infections as common complications. Infections, in particular, pose a serious threat, as intestines harbor bacteria that can enter the bloodstream during cases of organ rejection. However, with advances in medication and care, rejection rates have improved over the years, from 40% to around 8%.
The surgery was just the first step – Boyd spent three weeks recovering in the hospital followed by three months of outpatient treatment at Cleveland Clinic for close monitoring. Thankfully, she had no complications during this time.
Today, Lacy Cornelius Boyd is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience and hope. A young mother who once feared being confined to her home forever now finds herself enjoying simple pleasures like taking her 6-year-old daughter to school or going out to eat without worrying about finding a restroom.
"It's nice to take my daughter to school, pick her up, not have to worry about anything," Boyd said with a smile. "It's so much. Everyone is just a little bit more at peace."
Boyd's story serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a brighter tomorrow.
The crash left Boyd with broken bones in her neck and ribs, a collapsed lung, and severe injuries to her intestines – all caused by a too-tight seatbelt. The damage was so extensive that doctors had to perform six surgeries in just five days. But the intestinal damage persisted, threatening Boyd's very survival.
With no other option left, Boyd turned to an unlikely solution: an intestinal transplant. The surgery itself took about 12 hours and marked a turning point in her long and arduous recovery. What many might consider a high-risk procedure, intestinal transplants are indeed rare, with only around 100 performed annually in the US.
The risks involved are significant, with patients facing rejection and infections as common complications. Infections, in particular, pose a serious threat, as intestines harbor bacteria that can enter the bloodstream during cases of organ rejection. However, with advances in medication and care, rejection rates have improved over the years, from 40% to around 8%.
The surgery was just the first step – Boyd spent three weeks recovering in the hospital followed by three months of outpatient treatment at Cleveland Clinic for close monitoring. Thankfully, she had no complications during this time.
Today, Lacy Cornelius Boyd is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience and hope. A young mother who once feared being confined to her home forever now finds herself enjoying simple pleasures like taking her 6-year-old daughter to school or going out to eat without worrying about finding a restroom.
"It's nice to take my daughter to school, pick her up, not have to worry about anything," Boyd said with a smile. "It's so much. Everyone is just a little bit more at peace."
Boyd's story serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a brighter tomorrow.
her story is literally the most inspiring thing ive ever read like i was on the edge of my seat wondering if she was gonna make it thru all those surgeries and whatnot and then to hear that she had to have an intestinal transplant lol i mean can u imagine having one of those? 
but seriously though its crazy how far she's come from being a young mom who thought her life was over to actually living again and loving every min of it 
she reminds me so much of my own sister when she went thru cancer treatment all those years ago how gr8 she is 
and btw has anyone seen that new song by the 1975?? 
. Can you even imagine being in that situation? 
. Like, only 100 or so get done each year in the US. And it's a major risk, with infection and rejection being huge concerns 
. But she made it through the surgery and... and... I don't know, it just goes to show that if you want something bad enough, you can make it happen 
intestinal transplant is super rare & only 100 done annually in US... 40% rejection rate back then is insane... glad she's doing alright now 