CBS News us the phenomenal medical story of Tiana Tillman. The toddler is one of many children waiting for heart transplants but she has hope because of an experimental device called the Berlin heart.
Tiana had been fighting what everyone thought was a cold. It turned out that her heart was failing. The doctors' grim prognosis hit harder than any tackle on the football field. They weren't sure if she would make it through the night.
The device takes over the heart's work of pumping blood. Tubes are implanted inside the heart. They emerge from small openings in the skin to enter the pump, which sends blood directly to the blood vessels that go to the rest of the body.
The Berlin Heart has been used more than 160 times in the U.S. since 2000. Each time, doctors have to get permission from the FDA, and have it flown in from Germany. It was the only hope for Tiana and her family.
CBS News brings us her story the video below:
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