17-Year-Old Miracle Transplant Recipient Receives Warm Welcome Home
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17-Year-Old Miracle Transplant Recipient Receives Warm Welcome Home
Barely a week after Tyler Groom received a last-minute heart transplant, he returned to his Winfield home to find 600 friends waiting to welcome him with a benefit dinner.
Reporter: Natasha Trelfa
Email Address: natasha.trelfa@kake.com
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"He's standing up here and that's what God can do," said Alan Groom, Tyler's Groom's father.

It was the homecoming Tyler Groom's parents have waited nearly a month for; the chance to return to their Winfield home, with their won, healthy enough to stand with them.

"It's a great feeling to get back home, lay on your own couch, eat good food for once. To see everyone it's a great sight, it's wonderful," said Tyler Groom, who received a donor heart.

Groom, who plays high school football, spent most of August in an Oklahoma City hops ital after a viral infection attacked his heart.

"To survive that, he was on the razor's edge and there was nothing underneath him," said Alan.

News of a donor heart came through seconds before doctors were going to operate on Groom, in an attempt to temporarily strengthen his heart, until he could receive a new one. It's something many are calling a miracle.

Barely a week after that miracle, Groom returned to Winfield with his family. There he found more than 600 people ready to celebrate with a benefit dinner for his family.

"Just shows you how much people respect him and his family, and we're here for them," said Tanner Bailey, a childhood friend of Tyler.

"There's not enough thanks in the word. This is more than I could have imagined," said Tyler.

Groom will have to sit out this football, season but he said he plans to be on the sidelines to cheer on his teammates.

Tyler will head back to Oklahoma City early in the week, for another 2 to 4 weeks, as doctors monitor his recovery.


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