Portales man stable after heart transplant

A Portales man is in stable condition in a Texas hospital, after he received a heart transplant months after being diagnosed with an unknown heart virus.

Charles ‘Charlie’ Crane underwent 10 hours of surgery Tuesday at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

“Charlie is doing well he has opened his eyes and responded to simple commands, he looks wonderful,” said Martha Crane, Charlie’s wife.

Crane and his family was notified by hospital staff of a possible heart for the transplant at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. The heart was later confirmed as a match for Crane at 8 a.m. and surgery began at 1: 30 p.m. and was over at 11:30 p.m.