Skip to content Skip to Content

Woman who inspired many after surviving her groundbreaking surgery in 2011 dies at 22

By Kemberly Richardson

Click here for updates on this story

    NEW YORK (WABC) — A young woman who once captured the hearts of many across the Tri-State with her medically groundbreaking and life-saving surgery has died.

Many people may remember Heather McNamara as a 7-year-old featured in a commercial for NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in 2011.

In the commercial, she explained how removing and then replacing many of her organs was the only way doctors could remove a baseball-sized tumor.

The rare 23-hour procedure was even the subject of an episode of “The Good Doctor.”

In real life, world-renowned surgeon Dr. Tomoaki Kato removed six of Heather’s major organs to cut out a cancerous tumor lodged deep in her body and put everything back together.

It was a surgery other doctors said could not be done. She was the first child to ever undergo the procedure and it was a success.

Eyewitness News reporter Kemberly Richardson had the pleasure to meet the dynamic duo in 2019. By then, Heather was a freshman in college and said something about the surgery that now seems bittersweet.

“I was scared to die but I knew it would be OK if I did, if that makes sense,” she said at the time.

Heather’s mother announced that her daughter died Saturday, sharing the 22-year-old had spent months battling a bacterial infection and multi-organ failure.

Despite being so sick most of her life, Heather was a fighter. She was a graduate of Islip East Islip High School and she threw herself into volunteer work and service projects.

In a nod to the doctors and nurses who helped her, Heather was an EMT and planned on becoming a paramedic.

On Thursday, McNamara’s mother shared with Eyewitness News, a list of things and wishes, they found on Heather’s cell after she died.

“Know that I fought everyday. No one can come in if they don’t have a picture with me. No ROSES-sunflowers only. No sad music only Christmas music-LOUD. Tell everyone my story,” the list read.

Her family is asking others to honor Heather by doing an act of kindness in honor of a young lady who made the most out of every second she was alive.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Article Topic Follows: CNN - Regional

Jump to comments ↓

CNN Newsource

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.