A major medical breakthrough is bringing new hope to children with heart failure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has officially approved the Impella 5.5, the world’s smallest heart pump, for use in younger patients. This approval is a game-changer for doctors and families, offering a life-saving option for children in critical need of heart support.
For 21-year-old Katrina Penney, the Impella was more than just a medical device—it was her lifeline. Born with congenital heart defects, she received her first heart transplant as a baby and lived a normal childhood. But two years ago, her transplanted heart began to fail. As she waited for a second transplant at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Impella kept her alive for five weeks. “I actually named my Impella, Ella,” Penney shared. “It did all the work for my heart and saved my life.” With the device sustaining her, she successfully received a second transplant in June 2023. Now on the path to recovery, Penney looks forward to a future as a special education teacher, grateful for the technology that made it possible. With FDA approval, doctors say this revolutionary device will now save even more lives, giving young patients a fighting chance.