Crystal Lake South Student Receives Heart Transplant

A Crystal Lake South senior got the news she has been waiting for Tuesday: A heart had become available for her. 

Mackenzie Tannhauser of Crystal Lake has been dealing with heart issues since she was 8 years old. Tannhauser has dilated cardiomyopathy — the left ventricle of her heart is larger than it should be, and the heart has issues squeezing properly, according to videos of Tannhauser posted on Children's Memorial Hospital's website. 

Tannhauser had been admitted to Children's Memorial Hospital in recent weeks and her status on the donor transplant list was upgraded to the most serious level: Status 1A, according to Tannhauser's videos.

Tannhauser has 11 video diaries up on the Children's Memorial Hospital website that explain her journey over the past months as she has waited for a organ donor. 

On Tuesday night, Tannhauser received word a heart match had been found for her. Her heart transplant surgery was scheduled for 6 a.m. Wednesday.

According to posts from family members on Tannhauser's Facebook page, the surgery was a success.

Several fundraisers have been organized in recent months throughout the area to help raise money to pay for Tannhauser's transplant. 

LITH Patch will update with a more details if they become available.