First JenaValve Heart Patient Continues Remarkable Recovery with Liver Transplant

DETROIT - In 2023, Janice Couch became the first person in Michigan to receive the JenaValve Trilogy Heart Valve implant - a milestone in cardiac care. Guided by physicians and experts at Detroit-based Henry Ford Health, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers, the procedure was more than a state first; it was a carefully planned step that paved the way for additional life-changing treatments.

Following the pioneering heart valve implant, the retired preschool teacher from Grand Rapids underwent a hip replacement in July 2023 and, two years later, a life-saving liver transplant. Each surgery built on the stability her heart gained from the JenaValve, enabling her to safely move forward with procedures that once carried significant risk.

"Her progress shows what's possible when innovation, coordination, and compassion come together," said Dr. Tiberio Frisoli, who performed the groundbreaking JenaValve procedure.

Couch's journey began with her search for a liver transplant to treat cirrhosis, a condition she may have inherited from her mother, who passed away at 44 from complications of the disease. Cirrhosis can cause fatigue, weakness, and weight loss, and in advanced cases requires transplantation.

During evaluation, Henry Ford physicians discovered she had both mitral and aortic valve disease, which needed correction before she could be cleared for transplant or hip surgery. The JenaValve implant provided the foundation for her recovery, allowing her to undergo hip replacement surgery to address septic arthritis in her left hip, followed by her successful liver transplant in July 2025.

"Janice's recovery is a testament to the power of advanced medicine and teamwork," said transplant surgeon Dr. Ahmed Nassar. "Her story reflects the kind of patient-centered care we strive for every day - bringing together expertise across specialties to help patients regain their health and quality of life."

For Couch, the transformation has been profound: "I feel like I've been given my life back - one step, one heartbeat at a time," she said.

Her joy is tempered by loss - her father, whom she called her "best friend," passed away shortly after her transplant, but not before seeing her on the road to recovery. Today, she is walking again, cherishing life with her husband of 43 years, and embracing moments with their first granddaughter.

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