When I was just eight hours old, I had my first open-heart surgery. From that point on, I was in and out of the hospital due to illness.
When I was 10 years old, I had open-heart surgery to repair my valve. A few months later, the valve tore, and I had to undergo another open-heart surgery. Because of this, I needed a pacemaker.
About two years later, while at a routine doctor’s appointment, I went into cardiac arrest. A few months after that, my heart was so badly damaged that doctors told my parents I would need a heart transplant.
I was only 13 years old and very scared. I spent the next two months in the hospital waiting for a heart.
On New Year’s Eve, 1998, I received the gift of my heart. What a way to ring in the new year!
Five years later, I found out I would also need a kidney transplant. Luckily, my mom was by my side and gave me her kidney.
Unfortunately, I was never able to meet the donor family of my heart, but I’m still thankful every single day for the gift of life. I’ve written to them a few times so they would know the impact they made—and how they changed my life forever.
Before my transplant, I was so sick. I could barely walk, and I couldn’t even ride the school bus because I would get too ill.
Now, I live every day to the fullest. I am an elementary school teacher. I love to travel and explore new places. Having a second chance at life—twice—gives you more desire to see the world and makes you more thankful for every single day.
I can never say thank you enough to either of my donors. No words of gratitude will ever be enough to show how thankful I am.
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