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
adopted the McPharlins. Sarah became 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 and even total strangers have
pitched in to help. Ronald McDonald House provided assistance to Jim
and Dianne during the long stay in the ICU. Classmates and teachers 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 many 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.
But
through it all, Sarah has done what she had to while
focusing on the positives and living her life to the
fullest -- sports, student government, fund-raising, getting her drivers license, graduating from high school and preparing for college.
We'll keep you updated.
Thank you for your
support.