Lacy Cornelius Boyd was involved in a car crash on March 19, 2024, during a family road trip to the Grand Canyon. The vehicle, which included Boyd, her husband, and their 6-year-old daughter, hit black ice, resulting in a head-on collision with another car.
Boyd sustained severe injuries, including broken bones in her neck and ribs, a collapsed lung, and significant damage to her intestines. She underwent six surgeries within five days. Her daughter suffered a broken arm, while her husband and the other driver were unharmed.
Due to insufficient blood flow, Boyd's intestines deteriorated, reducing her small intestine length to approximately 35 inches, significantly less than the typical 35 feet. This led to a diagnosis of short bowel syndrome, requiring an ileostomy bag and 12 hours of daily intravenous (IV) nutrition.
Boyd experienced weakness, dehydration, and social challenges related to her condition. After a month in the hospital, she was discharged.
Seeking improved quality of life, Boyd self-referred to the Cleveland Clinic in November 2024, following a suggestion from a surgeon during her initial hospitalization. Dr. Masato Fujiki, a general surgeon at Cleveland Clinic, evaluated her and proposed an intestinal transplant.
Intestinal transplants are rare, with about 100 performed annually in the U.S., compared to 25,000 kidney transplants. The procedure is associated with poorer outcomes than other transplants, with approximately 50% of patients surviving more than five years, versus 98% for kidney transplants. Rejection and infection rates are notable due to bacteria within the intestines, though rejection rates have reportedly decreased from 40% to 8% over the past decade. The procedure is typically recommended for individuals dependent on IV nutrition or those born with intestinal defects.
Boyd began the process for an intestinal transplant in November. In July 2025, 16 months post-crash, she received the transplant at the Cleveland Clinic. The operation lasted approximately 12 hours without complications.
Her recovery involved three weeks of hospitalization followed by three months of outpatient monitoring in Cleveland. Following successful recovery, Boyd's ostomy bag was removed, and she no longer required IV nutrition. She returned home to Oklahoma before Thanksgiving.
Boyd resumed participation in family activities and traditions. She continues anti-rejection medication and receives follow-up care at the Cleveland Clinic, reporting a return to normal daily activities that were not possible for roughly a year and a half after the crash.