Dawn M. Mussallem, D.O., a Mayo Clinic physician, has a passion: to inspire her patients to live healthy and meaningful lives, even in the face of serious illness.
Her own history gives her special insight to her patients' journeys. Dr. Mussallem is both a cancer survivor and a heart transplant recipient.
She was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma while still in medical school. Chemotherapy, radiation and a bone marrow transplant helped her overcome that illness.
But a few years later, after the birth of her daughter, Dr. Mussallem began having trouble breathing. Tests revealed that her heart was beating at 8% of its capacity. She was diagnosed with heart failure.
Over the years, Dr. Mussallem was treated with medications and devices to keep her heart functioning. But she continued to experience complications of heart failure, including cardiac arrest. Finally, doctors decided that a transplant was the only option for a cure.
In December 2019, Dr. Mussallem was listed for a new heart at Mayo Clinic. After more than a year waiting for a match, she grew so sick she had to be hospitalized.
Then, in February 2021, her cardiologist got the call. It was good news.
A gift of hope
"I named my heart," says Dr. Mussallem. "I named her Grace. Sometimes, I'll just put my hand over my heart. And I will just thank her and thank the donor family because it's just amazing what they gave to me."
The transplant was just the beginning of Dr. Mussallem's path to renewed health. Recovery and rehabilitation were next.
"It was incredibly challenging to walk that first walk. I remember how heavy my legs felt. And I thought, 'Oh, my gosh, why is this so hard?' But then the next day got easier, and the next day got easier," says Dr. Mussallem. "You just have to keep your eye on the prize. And that prize is just so rewarding."
Gradually, she went from walking to running. A passionate advocate for exercise, Dr. Mussallem participated in short races just months after her transplant.
"I want to make sure that I can take really good care of my heart. I want to make sure that I can embrace my family and do things that are special in life," she says.
A milestone run
In February 2022, on the one-year anniversary of her transplant, Dr. Mussallem ran a full marathon in honor of her patients and the donor who saved her life. The day was chilly and rainy, with 32-mph wind gusts. But Dr. Mussallem crossed the finish line to a crowd of cheering supporters.
It's a victory she hopes will inspire others to live a healthy life and take care of their hearts.
"I'm so excited about this next journey in my life," says Dr. Mussallem. "I'm just filled with joy over it."