Sarah underwent major open chest surgery at Children's Hospital on Wednesday, July 22nd. Doctors were very pleased with the outcome and Sarah's post surgery progress. Four days after the surgery, Sarah was moved out of the ICU and into a step-down unit and just under three weeks following the surgery, on August 10th, Sarah returned home.

Doctors repaired a tricuspid heart valve which was not functioning properly. As a result of the valve problems, Sarah's right upper heart chamber had become significantly enlarged. That required the team led by Dr. Hal Walters to surgically reduce the size of the chamber to a normal dimension. In addition, doctors replaced Sarah's pacemaker and re-routed the pacemaker line.

The improperly functioning tricuspid valve had created serious health and quality of life issues for Sarah in recent months. Successful completion of these procedures should, according to her medical team, allow Sarah to again fully participate in her many activities, and Sarah is doing just that. She returned to East Lansing in time for the resumption of classes this fall at MSU. In addition to classes and work, Sarah has added membership in the MSU Nursing Student Association to her many extracurricular activities.

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The first year at Michigan State University proved to be a wonderful experience for Sarah.
She lived away from home, made new friends, advanced academically, worked in the MSU retail dairy store, and generally participated in college life.
Sarah has also spent some time as a volunteer at Children's Hospital and will face additional surgery there this summer. Doctors plan to replace a tricuspid valve which is not functioning properly in Sarah's heart.
While the procedure is major, Sarah fully intends to return to her active lifestyle in time for the resumption of classes this fall.

A big milestone in any life -- high school graduation. In addition to graduating from Grosse Pointe North High School, Sarah achieved another goal in being accepted for admission at Michigan State University.

Dianne, Sarah, Dr. and Mrs. Hal Walters, and Jim at High School Graduation Party
(click to view larger photo)

While in high school, Sarah received a varsity letter in track. She will again be going to the U.S. Transplant Games scheduled this summer in Pittsburgh and plans to volunteer as a counselor at the University of Michigan summer camp for transplant recipients before heading off to college.

WJR story about Sarah's Graduation

When Sarah was nominated by her teachers and counselors at school to go to Europe this summer as a Student Ambassador, Jim and Dianne were more than a little concerned.
It would be a wonderful opportunity for Sarah, but what if something happened so far from home and so far from the team that has supported her at Children's Hospital of Michigan.
The doctors, nurses and staff came up with a plan: They would contact facilities from Paris to Athens where the group would be traveling to alert them in the event of an emergency. The rest of the family would also go to Europe, but separately and with the promise to always stay a distance behind Sarah's student group.
As you can see from the smiles in the photos, Sarah headed off to Europe. A day later, June 23, Jim, Dianne, Katie and Emily flew to Paris to begin their vacation.
It turns out the advance arrangements were a good idea. Sarah became dehydrated while on the flight and shortly after visiting the Eiffel Tower began to suffer an adverse reaction. She checked into a hospital. Mom and Dad arrived and after a period of observation, all was quickly under control again.
Let the travels resume.
Its off to other parts of France and to Italy and Greece as well!