An Ohio girl’s prayer was answered when she shared life-changing news with her father: she would be waiting for a heart transplant in the hospital.
“Daddy, I’m winning,” said Ava Cooper, an 11-year-old.
Ava was born with several serious heart defects, including a hole in her heart, an inverted chamber, a misaligned heart, and a blocked lung valve, as reported by the Cleveland Clinic.
She had her first heart surgery just six days after birth, and by the age of five, she had already undergone four more major operations.
After that last surgery, she enjoyed five years without major issues. However, in summer 2024, her health began to decline again, according to her mother, Jamie.
“I noticed swelling in her face, and she struggled to breathe, making it impossible for her to lie down comfortably,” Jamie explained. “The doctors diagnosed her with heart failure.”
Once her family learned that Ava needed a new heart to survive, she was placed on the transplant list. This led to 200 days at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, waiting and hoping for a donor heart.
During their time in the hospital, the family focused on creating memories together despite the difficult circumstances.
“We had Sunday dinners, celebrated her sister’s birthday in her room, and even wrapped presents for Christmas morning,” Jamie shared.
Ava’s father, Sean, missed attending school but made the most of the situation by holding a dance party in their hospital room.
“That’s one of my best memories with Ava, and I’m thankful to everyone who made it happen,” he said.
After months of waiting, Ava’s doctor, Madeleine Townsend, received news in March that a donor heart had been found. She gently shared the news with Ava in her hospital bed, saying, “We’re watching the heart.”
Sean said it was overwhelming to hear such uplifting news, especially after all they had been through. “The hospital felt like our second home, so to hear Ava say she’s captivated was incredible,” he recalled. “We were finally a step closer to going home.”
Ava even expressed disbelief at the news but felt very excited that a donor heart had been identified.
The following day, a surgeon in Cleveland successfully transplanted the new heart, giving her a fresh start.
She stayed in the hospital for another month, eagerly returning home in April after eight long months.
Ava shared that what she looked forward to most was getting back to her bed and spending time with her dog, Rocky.
Her doctor reported that the donor heart is functioning well without any signs of rejection and that the care team would keep monitoring her recovery.
Ava is now preparing to return to school, saying, “Even though I missed my entire fourth-grade class, I’m excited to see my friends, go on field trips, and work on art projects again.”
The family feels an immense gratitude toward the donor family, with Jamie expressing, “It’s hard to articulate how thankful we are. They are the reason we’re here today, and we’re forever grateful.”
