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A baby born prematurely and in need of a heart transplant captivated the nation when doctors opted to give her the heart of a baboon

The operation also sparked controversy from medical ethicists and animal rights activists alike

After the operation proved unsuccessful, her parents spoke to PEOPLE in a 1984 cover story

When a baby born prematurely was in need of a new heart, doctors found the answer in an unlikely and controversial source: a baboon. What happened next captivated the nation and ignited conversation about medical ethics.

"Baby Fae" was the focus of a PEOPLE cover story from December 3, 1984 — born prematurely on Oct. 14 of that year.

The 5.9-pound girl was born with an underdeveloped heart. Within four days, her breathing had become labored and it seemed th

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