Zoe’s friend Melanie passed away this morning. When we met Melanie just after Zoe’s transplant she was a spunky 7 yr old girl with energy to spare. Melanie received her first heart in October, just before Zoe. She then received her second heart over the winter (November I think). Apparently Melanie is a biological rejector meaning she’s biologically unable to sustain donor organs. Because she’s rejected 2 hearts in under 2 1/2 years she was turned down for a third despite Dr. Boyle’s plea to the Cleveland Clinic Transplant board. As of last night (please keep in mind my information is 3rd hand) she was intubated and on constant dialysis because her kidneys had failed. Her family made the decision to keep her comfortable while she passed away. They really didn’t have any other options. My heart goes out to Mel’s mom, Christine, and her family. I can’t imagine having to make that decision for my 8 year old.
I don’t have funeral information yet but I will post it here as soon I get it.
Please keep Mel’s family in your thoughts & prayers.
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Today is Zoe’s 8th birthday. She re-discovered her American Girl Doll around Christmas so for her special day I took her to Chicago to the store. Bobby and his daughter went with us and we stayed overnight in Chicago since it was a 5 1/2hour drive one way. The girls were amazingly well behaved during the long car ride. We stocked up on dolls, coloring books and crayons before the trip and we took the laptop for them to watch movies on. Naturally the excitement was too much for 2 little girls and they slept all of 5 hours last night.
I could have dropped a small fortune in that store easily. There were so many cute outfits for Nicki and of course the matching ones for Zoe. She ended up getting Nicki a bathing suit, an ice skating outfit (with ice skates), a party dress, jammies, a summer outfit(with flip flops) and a dog named Honey. I also bought a pink American Girl t-shirt for Zoe since all the other gifts were for Nicki. Oh, and she she got Nicki’s hair done at the doll hair salon. That’s right. I said the doll hair salon.
I wish we had a store closer than Chicago, but I’m kind of glad we don’t. Nicki & zoe would look great, but we’d probably be homeless. 
Nicki's new do!
Zoe & Nicki
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Colleen from Dr. Boyle’s office called me a little while ago. She said they have a letter from Zoe’s donor family and she wanted to know if they could forward to us. I all but jumped through the phone! We’ve been waiting for this letter. She said the time frame for every donor family is different and ours decided it was time. I’m anxiously awaiting this letter. I’ve wondered since the day we got the heart who it came from. I’m finally going to getmy opportunity to thank this amazingly generous family who has gave me back my daughter.
I just wanted to share this with all of you who visit the site.
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You have all been so wonderful sending positive thoughts and prayers to not just Zoe, but her 2 transplant friends as well. As you know Zoe’s friend Aly passed away last summer while waiting for her 2nd heart in less than a year. I know I’ve mentioned her other friend Melanie who received a heart in October 2008. Mel had some difficulty last year and fought off rejection but had to have a pacemaker put in. She then went back on the transplant list and got her 2nd new heart early this winter, November I think. Well Mel is in severe rejection again. She’s back in the ICU on a vent and is receiving plasmapheresis and dialysis. Please forgive me if this information is entirely correct. I’m getting all the information 3rd hand. I’m getting it from Zoe’s dad who isgetting it via Aly’s mom who I believe is getting it from Mel’s mom. I haven’t given Zoe all the scary details, naturally. What I have told her is that Mel is having some trouble with her new heart and is back in the hospital.
I’d appreciate any prayers/positive thoughts you can spare for Melanie and her family. I can only imagine what Mel and her family are feeling right now.
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