“I didn’t know if I would see my son’s first birthday, let alone be here for his 17th birthday.”
Just five days after giving birth to her son Jaylen, Michelle suffered a heart attack and was given the devastating news that she needed a heart transplant.
She spent two years waiting for a heart, fearing that she wouldn’t be here to see her son grow up.
Finally, she received her first transplant. First transplant. Because 12 years later she would need a second transplant after developing coronary artery vascular disease a common occurrence for heart transplant recipients.
Today Michelle is doing well. She is excited about the holidays, and is looking forward to her son’s graduation from high school a milestone that seemed impossible all those years ago.
To honour her heart donors, Michelle tells her family that she loves them with all three of her hearts.
This holiday season, give patients like Michelle the promise of more time with a special gift to UHN Foundation.