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Allyssa Smith Babineaux
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In October 2006, Allyssa Smith, then a college freshman, an avid athlete
and the picture of health, was diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy, a
disease that weakens the heart and causes severe life-threatening problems.
Fortunately, she was referred to us. We used the latest advancements in
treatments and technology—many of which were developed here—to treat
her. With the aid of an implanted heart pump, she married her college
sweetheart, Mike Babineaux, in 2010.
People Magazine
, NBC’s Today Show
and others branded her “The Bionic Bride.”
Ally subsequently underwent a heart transplant and is enjoying the
dream of her new life, in a new house, with her new husband. The “Bionic
Bride” is now Allyssa Smith Babineaux. She, like countless others, is living
out the future she might not have had, thanks to a heart donor and our
dedicated doctors, scientists and staff.
There are many reasons
U.S. News &World Report
has ranked us
among the top ten heart centers in the nation for 21 consecutive years.
Allyssa Smith Babineaux is one of them.
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