New heart, new citizen

Transplant patient turns 18, becomes U.S. citizen, starts new chapter in life

Jill Coley
The Post and Courier

Heart transplant patient Kevyns Luthy, 18, who is battling organ rejection, visited the S.C. Aquarium on Wednesday with his family and friends from The Ronald McDonald House. Still at risk for infection, Luthy's health remains fragile. His mother, Valerie Luthy (from left), sister Elodie Luthy, friends Monica Woods and Joey Lee Woods and father, John Luthy, were visiting the otter exhibit with him.

Heart transplant patient Kevyns Luthy had a big week. He became a U.S. citizen. He turned 18 years old. And he turned the corner in fighting a virus that threatened his new heart.

Luthy was born in France with a complex of heart defects, the most devastating of which was that his heart was backwards, a condition called dextrocardia.

A soft-spoken young man, Luthy is often wrapped in a blanket, easy to feel a chill. He visits Medical University of South Carolina's Children's Hospital daily for physical therapy and checkups. His parents and young sister live with him at the Ronald McDonald House, their home for three months.

He looks forward to voting in the upcoming election. "It's pretty cool to think about it. You get sworn in and become a part of this country built by immigrants," he said.

Luthy underwent his first surgery in France at age 3. Four more procedures followed before he moved to the U.S. Fluent in French, he remembers stopping at the bakery for a croissant to nibble on his way to school.

His family settled in Utah, where Luthy was treated at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City and grew hardy enough to play first base and pitch for a local youth league.

But at age 13, his heart function began to decline and heart failure crept in. He was listed for a transplant at age 14. Two and a half years later, and following a move across the country to Camden, Luthy still waited.

"After a while you think this isn't going to happen," he said. "But then it does when you least expect it."

The bishop at the family's church asked members to pray and fast for one Sunday on the boy's behalf. On Monday, the call from MUSC's Children's Hospital came.

"We surely believe in the power of fasting and prayer," said his father, John Luthy, a lawyer and instructor at University of South Carolina School of Law. "He has some sort of mission in life."

That was nearly a year ago, and his battles have continued. Most recently, he picked up a common virus, one that for many people is harmless. But in Kevyns Luthy, the virus triggered his immune system, which then began to turn on his new heart.

After two and half weeks in intensive care and losing more than 20 pounds, he is once again gaining strength. He carries a pump that feeds his heart medicine 24 hours a day.

"I feel good, but not to the point of getting up and playing baseball," he said.

Reach Jill Coley at 937-5719 or jcoley@postandcourier.com.