Coming Alive After Transplant
By Sabrina AbdulBlack Press
Nov 02 2006

There is one thing Cecilia Ferreira doesn’t miss after getting her heart transplant and returning home — the piggyback rides she used to get from her older sister Christine.

Prior to her heart transplant, Cecilia, 13, could barely walk a block without her body being strained. So she would rely on her sister to carry her until they reached home or wherever they were going.

But since receiving her new heart on July 31 Cecilia has been given a new lease on life.

“Cecilia is no longer a child with a heart condition,” said Christine, 33. “She’s a regular 13-year-old now who isn’t limited by her health. And she can do things on the go without having to plan for them.”

Cecilia was born with a heart missing a valve and several arteries. The St. Michael’s elementary student was admitted to Toronto’s Hospital For Sick Children in July where she received her transplant and spent three months recuperating.

“The experience was all very overwhelming,” said Cecilia’s mother, Susie. “At times it felt like a nightmare.”

When Cecilia and Susie arrived back home on Saturday they were greeted by about 15 family members and friends at the airport who took them back to their Cariboo Heights home where a welcome home party was organized for Cecilia.

“It was nice to be back home and to see all my friends, family, and pets,” said Cecilia, who has four cats, four dogs, a bird, and rabbit.

She said a few of her pets didn’t recognize her when she tried to play with them, but it was great to see all of them again anyways.

Although Cecilia’s heart is working fine now, and helping her enjoy things like swimming, running with her dogs, and walking long distances without having to stop for a rest, her journey to recovery came with its obstacles.

While at Sick Children’s Cecilia had two transplant rejections all within a two-week time span that were eventually brought under control.

“When she experienced her rejection she slowed down a lot,” said Susie. “It was very scary and it’s not something you want to hear about. Rejection happens to everyone. But throughout it all Cecilia was a hero and was always smiling and happy.”

As well, Cecilia often found herself with purple lips because blood wouldn’t get to them, and also traveled in a wheelchair when she went out.

“One of the blessings that came out of the trip was to see Cecilia walking by my side,” Susie said. “To see her walk on her own was amazing.”

With her new strength Cecilia hopes to take up soccer, field hockey, yoga, and football.

Although Cecilia is feeling healthier than she ever has she is still required to take close to 30 different types of medication and has weekly visits with her doctor for blood tests and physiotherapy.

“Cecilia takes about 90 per cent of the responsibility for taking her pills, and she is very good at it, and always remembers,” Susie said.

Before leaving Toronto Susie made sure her and Cecilia received closure.

The two of them asked doctors to see Cecilia’s old heart.

“The heart looked really large, and inflated, and it looked like it had been worked really hard over the years,” Susie said.

But now Susie and Cecilia have closed one chapter of their lives and are starting a new one.

“Because of what happened to Susie our family has grown,” Susie said. “We will always have a part of another family because their child donated their heart to Cecilia.”

The two don’t have many details about the donor, but Susie hopes to find more information about them so she can express her gratitude.

“We’ve received so much support and I want to thank everyone for their help,” Susie said. “And I want to thank the family who signed the donor card that gave Cecilia a chance at life, we are so grateful.”

mario bartel/newsleader
© Copyright 2006 Burnaby News Leader