Heart Transplant Saves Life of Young Girl Who'd Been Misdiagnosed With Pneumonia

Aug. 26, 2011— -- Looking at young Greer Underwood today, no one would never guess that a few months ago she was in a hospital in critical condition, on a waiting list for a new heart.

The 10-year-old Muscle Shoals, Ala., youngster might not be alive today had her parents not pushed to get a second opinion for her breathing problems that had been diagnosed as a simple sinus infection.

Now, looking back over the many medical trials Greer underwent in the past seven months -- a severe stroke, a final (correct) diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, the implantation of an experimental device to pump her heart and ultimately a full heart transplant -- her parents are thankful that the many odds stacked against their daughter turned in her favor.

"I think Greer is proof that God is still active and alive in our lives today," says Greer's mother, Dawn Underwood. "She's doing so great now, and she's just been superbrave through all of this. That is the personality the Lord gave her. ... I guess he knew she would have to go through so much."

Last February, however, Greer's prospects did not look so promising. Her overall weakness, dry cough and shortness of breath was first diagnosed as a simple sinus infection by her pediatrician, then pneumonia by a local hospital. But she wasn't responding to any of the treatments for these diagnoses, and was getting worse. Greer's parents brought her back to the hospital emergency room soon after she began vomiting. Greer Underwood after her successful heart transplant.

Within a week of the transplant, Greer was back at home. She still has some speech difficulties and weakness on her right side from the stroke, for which she's receiving rehab, but is healing rapidly and has even re-enrolled in dance classes for the fall, her mother says.