Arkansas mother’s rare heart‑kidney transplant canceled after donor organ fails viability check

Brittany Slater, 31, received the transplant call she had been waiting for, according to KATV. Doctors at Vanderbilt University Medical Center told her to travel to Nashville for a rare heart‑kidney transplant. She drove nearly five hours from Arkansas and prepared for surgery. The transplant team planned to perform the heart procedure first, then the kidney transplant.

However, two days later, doctors canceled the operation. One of the donor organs was not viable, according to Slater. She described the experience as an emotional crash after years of waiting.

Brittany Slater: Living With Kidney Disease and Heart Failure

We previously reported Slater has lived with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, or FSGS, since age 18. The disease caused permanent kidney damage. She also battles heart failure, which led doctors to approve her for a dual transplant earlier this year.

She said she ran upstairs to tell her mother when Vanderbilt called. “We got to go! Like, this is it,” she recalled. Slater and her family traveled to Nashville immediately.

Procedure Canceled After Organ Deemed Not Viable

On Sept. 7, Slater learned one organ could not be used. Doctors canceled the transplant and sent her home. She said the moment felt like a roller coaster that “doesn’t stop.” Despite the setback, she remains hopeful.

“This is not the end,” she told KATV. “I’m still waiting, I’m still fighting, and when I get that second call, that is gonna be it.”

Brittany Slater Awaits Another Call From Vanderbilt, Holds Onto Hope

Slater’s doctors told her another opportunity could come at any time. It could be a week, two weeks, or even a month. She continues to rely on her family, faith, and support system while she waits.

Slater receives ongoing financial support through her GoFundMe campaign. Donations help cover medical expenses and monthly trips to Vanderbilt for care. She said travel costs add up quickly, but community support has helped her stay focused.

Although the canceled transplant was a major setback, Slater said she remains determined. She continues preparing for the next call, hoping the next donor match will be viable.