Three Hearts
Kennedy has had three heart transplants in her life … and she’s only 21. Here’s her story:
“I was born with a congenital heart defect and had open-heart surgery when I was six weeks old to correct it. Unfortunately, I developed complications after the surgery and had to be listed for a heart transplant at just six months old. A donor hero saved my life one month later.
My new heart carried me until I was six years old and I had to be re-listed. At seven, I was gifted the most precious gift AGAIN from a heroic donor! Along the way, I developed PTLD and had 58 rounds of chemotherapy.
I was doing great until my senior year of high school in 2019, when I started having heart problems again. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day I had a heart attack and my coronary artery was blocked.
I was placed on the transplant waiting list as a 1B and waited a few months – during this time I was still finishing my senior year of high school part time.
On April 1, 2019, at the age of 17, I was given the gift of life for the THIRD time from a donor hero. Because of their gift, I was able to graduate high school ON TIME!
I’m currently a junior at BGSU studying Human Development and Family Studies. I’m also in a sorority and love hanging out with all my friends during the school year. All thanks to organ donation.”
Thank you, Kennedy, for sharing your story!