Sarah with Family, Friends and Team Members outside Children's Hospital before the transplant surgery

On July 17, 2001, while swimming with members of her family, Sarah's heart stopped. Her heart was attacked by a virus from the same family as the Polio virus. Several times in the weeks that followed, Sarah's heart had to be restarted, first in the E.R. at St. John Hospital and then at Children's Hospital of Michigan, where Sarah was quickly transferred.

Doctors hoped that Sarah's heart would regain strength and function once the virus was gone. Twice she was sent home and twice she rather quickly had to return to the hospital.

Sarah was then placed on an LVAD. That's a Left Ventricular Assist Device. In fact, she is believed to be the first child in Michigan to have undergone this surgery. It was performed by a team at Children's Hospital, assisted by a surgeon from Indiana experienced in implanting the device, along with technicians from the California-based manufacturer.

But that was, of course, a temporary measure. Sarah still needed a new heart.

As you can imagine, it continues to be an incredible ordeal and experience for Sarah and her family. The support for them has been incredible as well. The doctors, nurses and staff at Children's have adopted the McPharlins. Sarah is much more than a patient. When Sarah wanted to plan a birthday party for her mother, the hospital staff broke all the rules to make sure that it happened. The same was true for Sarah's birthday when the hospital offered a conference room and party supplies so that she could invite a few friends in. While Sarah had been confined to the Intensive Care Unit, the doctors and hospital staff mustered the necessary portable equipment to get Sarah downstairs to her party - - and she was even allowed to go outside for a few minutes! (That was the second item on her birthday wish list.) Neighbors and relatives have pitched in to help. Ronald McDonald House has provided assistance to Jim and Dianne. Classmates have rallied around Sarah. She has also received messages of support from people who have never met Sarah, but heard about what had happened and about her strength while awaiting a new heart.

Finally, 97 days after the virus attacked her heart, Sarah got her top birthday wish. She underwent successful heart transplant surgery the evening of October 22nd.

For the first week, the heartbeat was strong. However, the new heart then suddenly developed a block which prevented its own electrical impulses from functioning properly. Sarah was immediately placed on an external pacemaker and, on November 9th, an internal pacemaker was implanted. With pacemaker assistance, the new heart functioned well.

Problems with rejection continued to keep Sarah in the hospital and in intensive care until late December. Sarah was allowed to go home with her family for a few hours on Christmas day and again on New Year's day. Then, on January 11, 2002, hospital staffers who are now among the McPharlin's friends, lined the hallways at Children's as Sarah was finally discharged and went home.

Sarah still returned to the hospital several days a week for treatment to deal with the rejection, but she also once again began doing 'normal' things - - seeing friends, studying, playing, going outdoors.

During the spring, Sarah returned to school on a limited basis. During the summer, she resumed swimming and was able to achieve a key goal: return playing with her soccer team.

In the fall of 2002, one year after the surgery - - Sarah was back in school full time and celebrated her 13th birthday just as any other teenager would want to do: with a group of her friends!!

Since then, there have been several emergencies, including successful brain surgery in August of 2005 because of troublesome and threatening seizures. The summer of 2009 saw the need to repair a faulty tricuspid valve in Sarah's heart. That major surgery was very successful.

Through it all, Sarah has done what she had to while focusing on the positives and living her life to the fullest.

We'll keep you updated.

Thank you for your support!