When PVS Leads to Transplant

In this episode, Jen Joly is joined by fellow PVS mom Crystal Costante for a powerful conversation about one of the most difficult topics in the PVS community: lung transplant. Crystal shares the extraordinary story of her son Nathan, who was diagnosed with complex congenital heart disease at birth, later developed Pulmonary Vein Stenosis, and became the first infant with PVS at his Canadian hospital to receive a double lung transplant. Together, Jen and Crystal discuss the moment transplant first entered the conversation, the emotional weight of making that decision, and the whirlwind journey that led to Nathan receiving donor lungs just days after being listed. They also talk about the realities that come after transplant: recovery, rejection concerns, developmental challenges, and learning to build a full life around ongoing medical complexity. At the heart of this episode is a story of resilience, advocacy, and hope. Crystal offers an honest look at the realities of transplant while sharing what seven years later has taught her about survival, motherhood, and celebrating every victory along the way.