It’s always amazing to me how much can change in a year, or just a few months, or 15 years. Today is my 15th heart birthday. It’s been 15 years since I’ve struggled going up a set of stairs, 15 years of immunosuppressants, heart caths, doctor appointments and so much more. It’s also been 15 years since a family lost their daughter, sister, friend and even though it’s been 15 years, this day is still so hard for me. It’s a day I always want to celebrate, but it’ll always be difficult knowing a family is mourning. 

Each year, I try to recap the past year (10, 11, 12, 13, 14), but last year I just couldn’t. Every time I sat down to write, I really struggled due to the state of the world and the fear and anxiety it induced. I did write a long Instagram caption, but the weight of everything around me was just too much at the time for a blog post. 

Life has gotten significantly better since I received the COVID-19 vaccine and I learned I have antibodies. When the vaccine was released, the transplant community took a sigh of relief, which was quickly torn away from many. Due to the immunosuppressant drugs we’re on, some transplant recipients were not making antibodies to COVID-19 after receiving the vaccine and unfortunately were still at risk for COVID-19. I’m very lucky and learned I did make antibodies, something I’ll forever be thankful for. Not only was I thankful I had antibodies, but I’m also thankful I have the opportunity to pass down COVID-19 antibodies and protection to my son.

So much can change in just a year. At the end of 2020, after a year of trying to start a family, we learned I was pregnant! I’m now 32 weeks and some days, it still doesn’t seem real until Baby K reminds me with a swift kick to a rib. 

When I was 14 and told I needed a heart transplant, I never wondered if I would be able to have kids. My pediatric transplant team always made me feel like anything was possible, so I think I just assumed I could. It wasn’t until college and after, that I really started to do research and started wondering if I’d be able to carry a child.

After 15 years, I still can’t believe the opportunities my donor has given me. Graduating high school, college, traveling the world, meeting my husband, but the greatest opportunity and blessing has been the opportunity to carry my child. Pregnancy has not been easy, and while it feels like one of the harder things I’ve done, it’s easily the most rewarding thing I’ve ever been through. There is nothing like feeling your child move inside your belly. That first movement, especially, is one I will never forget. It caught me so off guard and all of a sudden, it all felt so real. That 15 years after a heart transplant, I’m a mom.

Fifteen years later, and I’m as thankful as I can be to my donor family and donor. Thank you for making the choice to give the gift of life during one of the most difficult days. Not only did my organ donor save my life, she gave me the opportunity to bring a new life into this world, and for that I’ll be forever grateful. 

20 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant and a new person is added to the waiting list every 10 minutes. Please register to be an organ donor and share your wishes with your family.