Heartfelt Connection: Two Families Unite Through Gift of Life

Quick Smiles:

• A baby’s heart donation creates a lifelong bond between two families.
• A mother hears her late daughter’s heartbeat in another child.
• Families unite to promote the importance of organ donation.

Addison McArthur was just a newborn when she faced a life-threatening diagnosis.

Her heart condition, left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy, placed her at the top of the transplant list in Vancouver.

Meanwhile, in Nevada, Felicia Hill experienced an unimaginable loss when her daughter, Audrey Sullenger, passed away at only six days old.

Despite her grief, Felicia made the decision to donate Audrey’s organs, a choice that can save up to eight lives.

Audrey’s heart was sent to Canada, offering Addison a chance at life.

Elaine Yong, Addison’s mother, received the life-changing news on her first Mother’s Day: a donor heart was available for her daughter.

Audrey’s heart became a symbol of hope, as she became the youngest donor in Nevada that year.

Elaine’s gratitude was profound, and she longed to express her thanks to the donor family.

“It was something I always knew – that if I could meet the donor family, I would want to,” Elaine shared.

The process of meeting donor families can be complex due to privacy regulations.

However, about a year after the transplant, Elaine sent a heartfelt thank-you note through the transplant organization.

Felicia Hill responded after reading a blog post Elaine had written about the transplant experience.

The two mothers exchanged messages and soon arranged to meet.

Their first meeting took place at a Donate Life Walk in California.

Felicia brought a T-shirt for Addison, while Elaine brought a stethoscope.

When Felicia listened to Addison’s heart, she heard her daughter’s heartbeat once again.

“I just wanted to hug Elaine,” Felicia said. “I felt connected immediately, knowing that another mother got to raise their child. And that’s what gave me so much happiness.”

Both mothers have since dedicated themselves to promoting organ donation.

Elaine now works with BC Transplant, advocating for organ donation awareness.

She shared in a video, “Every time I hear that they are working on a donor case or that they’re going to this place for recovery, I always think, somebody is going to – somebody is getting a gift of life.”

In April, Elaine celebrated Addison’s 14th birthday on social media, detailing the adventures and milestones Addison had experienced, all thanks to Audrey’s gift.

The greatest gift of all, however, is the life Addison continues to live, a testament to the generosity of Audrey and her family.

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