Local barber Corey Steger receives heart transplant

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A custom car show held by the Huntsville Low Profile Car Club brought dozens to the Harrison Wellness Center to celebrate that local barber Corey Steger has won the fight to stay alive.  

“Corey is one of us, and he doesn’t have a classic car, and he’s not in our group, but he comes around to our clubhouse and everybody knows him, so we had to show him the love that he’s been showing us for years,” said Earl Wootson of Low Profile.

For more than 30 years, Steger has co-owned Rocket City barbershop in Huntsville, creating lifelong relationships through fresh haircuts.  

But the stylist had a failing heart from what doctors said was the result of the treatment he received in his fight against lupus. In June of 2024, the doctors gave Steger just one year to live without a heart transplant. 

“I ended up getting some medicine and some surgeries to help me bounce back, but I still needed a transplant to survive,” said Steger.  

Without a donor, the doctors lost hope of finding a match.  

“Huntsville Hospital gave up, UAB in Birmingham,” said his wife, Laivor Steger. “We went to doctors across the state for over 6 months and did all kinds of tests, but they had given up.” 

For a year, Steger had issues with breathing, walking, and loss of appetite, but his family and the Huntsville community fought with him.  

On May 6, Steger received a heart from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and the celebration of a life began. 

“I’d like to be around to see my grandkids grow up, and it has meant the world,” said Steger. “They gave me a little more time.” 

Steger continues to recover, but his wife says he is slowly regaining his strength. 

“He’s up walking, he’s full of life, and nothing is stopping him,” said Laivor Steger. “He said he’s got a young man’s heart, and guess what? He said he’s going to outlive us all now.”