'It was originally someone else's:' Heart transplant surgery leaves Arizona teen with survivor's guilt

PHOENIX — Recovering from heart transplant surgery has been more psychological than physical for 14-year-old Andrea of Phoenix.

"I felt I didn’t deserve it. It was originally someone else’s," Andrea said.

She inherited a heart condition that required a transplant as a preventative measure. Her sister underwent the same procedure. But Andrea struggled long after surgery, knowing she had someone else’s heart who had died.

Experts say it is not uncommon for a child or teen to experience a range of emotions after transplant surgery, including relief, survivor's guilt, depression, confusion and even suicide ideation in some cases.

“For so long our goal in the medical field has been survival. But our transplant team really does prioritize this holistic perspective to healthcare," said Sarah