A Life of Triumph: Lacy Cornelius Boyd's Journey After a Rare Transplant
In March 2024, what was supposed to be an exciting family road trip to the Grand Canyon turned into a life-altering event for Lacy Cornelius Boyd. The family car skidded on black ice, and Boyd, her husband, and their 6-year-old daughter were involved in a head-on collision. While Boyd suffered severe injuries, including a collapsed lung and damaged intestines, her daughter had broken an arm.
The medical team's initial prognosis was grim, with Boyd facing an uncertain future due to the extensive damage to her intestines caused by a too-tight seatbelt. However, Boyd refused to give up on life, and after being diagnosed with short bowel syndrome, she embarked on a journey that would change her life forever – an intestinal transplant.
Only about 100 intestinal transplants are performed annually in the US, making it one of the rarest organ transplant procedures. The surgery is fraught with risks, including rejection and infections, which can be deadly. According to Dr. Adam Griesemer, a transplant surgeon at NYU Langone, intestinal transplants have the worst outcomes of any type of transplant.
Despite these challenges, Boyd's determination and courage paved the way for her successful transplant in July 2025. The 12-hour surgery was a long and arduous process, but it ultimately led to Boyd's recovery and newfound sense of purpose.
Today, Boyd is thriving, having returned home just in time for Thanksgiving with her loving family. She has regained her strength and independence, and the trauma from the car crash seems like a distant memory. As she navigates life with her new ostomy bag and a regimen of anti-rejection medications, Boyd remains hopeful and optimistic.
"I couldn't drink Coke before," Boyd said, reflecting on the sacrifices she made during her recovery. "It's so much. Everyone is just a little bit more at peace." With each passing day, Boyd's story serves as a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity.
In March 2024, what was supposed to be an exciting family road trip to the Grand Canyon turned into a life-altering event for Lacy Cornelius Boyd. The family car skidded on black ice, and Boyd, her husband, and their 6-year-old daughter were involved in a head-on collision. While Boyd suffered severe injuries, including a collapsed lung and damaged intestines, her daughter had broken an arm.
The medical team's initial prognosis was grim, with Boyd facing an uncertain future due to the extensive damage to her intestines caused by a too-tight seatbelt. However, Boyd refused to give up on life, and after being diagnosed with short bowel syndrome, she embarked on a journey that would change her life forever – an intestinal transplant.
Only about 100 intestinal transplants are performed annually in the US, making it one of the rarest organ transplant procedures. The surgery is fraught with risks, including rejection and infections, which can be deadly. According to Dr. Adam Griesemer, a transplant surgeon at NYU Langone, intestinal transplants have the worst outcomes of any type of transplant.
Despite these challenges, Boyd's determination and courage paved the way for her successful transplant in July 2025. The 12-hour surgery was a long and arduous process, but it ultimately led to Boyd's recovery and newfound sense of purpose.
Today, Boyd is thriving, having returned home just in time for Thanksgiving with her loving family. She has regained her strength and independence, and the trauma from the car crash seems like a distant memory. As she navigates life with her new ostomy bag and a regimen of anti-rejection medications, Boyd remains hopeful and optimistic.
"I couldn't drink Coke before," Boyd said, reflecting on the sacrifices she made during her recovery. "It's so much. Everyone is just a little bit more at peace." With each passing day, Boyd's story serves as a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity.
but seriously its so inspiring 2 see her thru this & still smiling 
she's literally beaten the odds and is thriving now 
it's not just about the medical team's expertise, but her own mental toughness that got her through this. I mean, can you imagine having to adjust to an ostomy bag? It's a big deal 
but Boyd's attitude towards it is so inspiring 
everyone needs to learn from her example of resilience and hopefulness 
IT'S AMAZING HOW ONE PERSON CAN TURN TRAGEDY INTO TRIUMPH AFTER ALL THE RISKS AND CHALLENGES SHE FACED DURING HER TRANSPLANT PROCESS. 100 INTESTINAL TRANSPLANTS PER YEAR IS JUST CRAZY, BUT BOYD'S DETERMINATION PAID OFF BIG TIME!!! I FEEL LIKE WE COULD ALL LEARN FROM HER STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE 
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE TRANSPLANT ITSELF, IT'S ABOUT HOW SHE'S CHOOSING TO LIVE WITH HER NEWLY GIVEN GIFT. I'M SO HAPPY FOR HER AND HER FAMILY!!! 
can you even believe what this girl went through?! Lacy Cornellius Boyd almost lost her life after that car accident & now she got a transplant & is THRIVING 
100 intestinal transplants a year, that's like super rare 
I love how humble she is too, like 'I couldn't drink Coke before'... that's just beautiful 
I mean can you even imagine going through all that trauma & then still managing to come out on top? 12 hours of surgery, rejection, infections... it's crazy! 
. But it sounds like it was all worth it – she's thriving now and got her life back 
!
And she refused to give up even when the med team said it was all over 
Her determination is seriously inspiring 
I'm so glad she's back home with her fam and can finally start living life again 
This girl's story is a total reminder that we're stronger than we think 
- from being broken to becoming whole again 
. I mean, who needs that kind of excitement on vacation? Anyway, congrats to Lacy for making it through this crazy ordeal 
... I guess the seatbelt really wasn't worth saving those intestines 
. It's wild that she got a transplant – only 100 a year in the US? That's like trying to find a unicorn or something 
. But hey, at least she's got her ostomy bag and meds to keep her company 
. I'm glad she's doing better and all, but can we talk about how exhausting that whole process must've been? 12-hour surgery? No thank you 
.
. And I love that she's found a new sense of purpose now 
The fact that she's still optimistic and hopeful despite everything she's been through is truly inspiring