50 years later: Erie native undergoes transplant five decades after heart-valve surgeries

The artificial valves implanted in Mary Ann Kozlowski's heart 50 years ago now reside in a cup on one of the Erie native's book shelves.

Kozlowski, 69, no longer needs them, except as souvenirs. She underwent heart transplant surgery June 10 at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, where she now lives.

"I feel great, except my chest is still a little sore," Kozlowski said a few weeks after surgery. "The last time I felt this good was probably in 2013."

The successful transplant ended what may be a Guinness World Record for Kozlowski as the person who has lived the longest with a double-valve replacement.

Kozlowski, then known as Mary Ann George, had her aortic and mitral valves replaced in 1974 at then-Hamot Medical Center by groundbreaking Erie heart surgeon Dr. George D'Angelo. Guinness officials told the Erie Times-News they are working to confirm if any patient has lived longer with two artificial heart valves.

"I'm grateful the valves lasted so long," Kozlowski said.

From May: A double heart valve surgery by an Erie doctor might earn a Guinness World Record

The valves didn't cause Kozlowski's heart problems that led to her recent transplant. Her childhood battles with rheumatic fever and septicemia, which damaged her original heart valves, weakened her heart in other ways over the years.

She went on the heart transplant list in January and by May, Kozlowski's joints were swelling and short walks left her out of breath — tell-tale signs that she was in congestive heart failure.

Tests confirmed that she needed a new heart immediately.

"I went to my doctor on May 29 and he sent me to the hospital," Kozlowski said. "On June 8, I was told there was a heart for me."

Recovery going smoothly, except for medicine side effects

Kozlowski's recovery has gone well. She was able to sit up the day after surgery and didn't require any pain medicine.

The only drawback is the antirejection medicine she must take as a new heart recipient. It makes her body shake, though doctors have told her that the side effects will diminish.

She had one request before surgeons removed her heart and inserted the new one.

"I wanted the valves," Kozlowski said. "I knew from working in a hospital histology department that a patient can request them and the hospital can't say no."

The aortic valve is about the size of two stacked quarters, and the mitral valve is the size of two stacked nickels.

"Those little things did all that work for 50 years," Kozlowski said.

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com . Follow him on X @ETNBruce .

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: 50 years later: Erie native undergoes transplant five decades after heart-valve surgeries