Kansas City,
21
February
2017
|
09:28 AM
America/Chicago

KMBC 9: 'Inside Pediatrics' heart transplant patient is all grown up

Sawyer

You may remember Sawyer and her family from last February's Inside Pediatrics heart special. She was born with a heart disease and needed a transplant. 

Her heart was failing and she needed constant meditation through an IV. 

"It is devastating. That does not even describe how awful it was," Sawyer's mother, Melissa, said. 

"25% of patients who are put on a wait list for a heart actually die before a heart becomes available," said Dr. Aliessa Barnes. Dr. Barnes is the Medical Director of Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplantation at Children's Mercy. 

After a long 18 months, the family received a miracle. Sawyer received her gift of life on December 21, 2015.

"You don't wish for somebody to lose their life, but you wish that they honor that life. They choose life after death," Melissa said. 

One family's choice to turn their devastation into another family's joy is why Sawyer is alive today.

"It takes a lot of courage to lose a child and to still choose life and without them, my daughter would not be alive," Melissa said. 

Sawyer now has no limitations. She is a healthy, happy, energetic little girl. She turns three in April.

 

See the full story via KMBC 9.

Watch full episodes from Seasons 1 and 2 of Inside Pediatrics.

Learn more about The Brendan Tripp Elam Transplant Center at Children's Mercy.

Learn more about The Ward Family Heart Center at Children's Mercy.