A Mom's Fight for a Normal Life After a Horrible Crash

A mom's life took a dramatic turn after a car crash. Lacy Cornelius Boyd was on a family trip with her husband and daughter. They were heading home from the Grand Canyon. Suddenly, their car hit black ice. The car spun out of control and crashed head-on into another vehicle. Boyd's injuries were severe. She had broken bones, a collapsed lung, and serious damage to her intestines. Doctors worked hard to save her. She had six surgeries in just five days. But her intestines kept getting worse. The seatbelt, which saved her life, also caused serious damage. She was left with only a small portion of her intestines. Life after the crash was tough. Boyd was diagnosed with short bowel syndrome. She needed an ileostomy bag and 12 hours of IV nutrition daily. She felt weak and embarrassed. She couldn't enjoy simple things like eating out. Her daughter was scared of all the medical equipment at home.Doctors gave her little hope. But Boyd didn't give up. She found out about a rare procedure: an intestinal transplant. She contacted the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Masato Fujiki suggested the transplant. Boyd was overjoyed. She had never heard of such a procedure before. Intestinal transplants are rare and risky. Only about 100 are done each year in the U. S. The success rate is low. Many patients face rejection and infections. But Boyd was determined. She started the process in November 2024. In July 2025, she received the transplant. The operation was a success. Boyd spent three weeks in the hospital and three months recovering in Cleveland. She had no complications. Her ostomy bag was removed. She no longer needed IV nutrition. She returned home just in time for Thanksgiving. Boyd's life is slowly returning to normal. She can take her daughter to school and enjoy family traditions. She is grateful for the chance to live a normal life again. She takes anti-rejection medication and continues follow-up care. But she is happy to be back with her family.