January 1, Ohio Girl Beats Odds With Heart Transplant

Wyatt’s Take

• An Ohio child overcame a tough battle with her health.
• Community and family support made a difference through hard times.
• Her recovery shows American resilience and faith.

A brave 11-year-old girl from Ohio has conquered a series of life-threatening heart issues, receiving a new heart after spending more than 200 days on the transplant waitlist. Doctors said more surgeries would not help her, but her courage and determination kept her going until the right donor was found.

Ava Cooper was born with several heart defects and had her first open-heart surgery as a newborn. She needed more surgeries by the time she was five. For a few years, things seemed to settle down, but trouble returned in 2024 when Ava began showing signs of heart failure.

“Ava started getting sick. I was noticing her waking up with facial swelling, not able to lay flat all the way, having a hard time breathing. Her doctors at the time determined she was in heart failure,” Cooper’s mom, Jamie Cooper, said.

Doctors placed her on the transplant list in September 2024. The wait was tough for Ava’s family. Her dad, Sean, remembered what it felt like to hear the good news.

“When you see your kid going through what she did every day and then that happens, it’s a blessing,” Cooper told FOX 8.

Through all the tough days in the hospital, her family worked hard to keep life normal. They celebrated holidays and birthdays in the hospital and even had a father-daughter dance since Ava missed hers at school.

“Even though I had to miss the father-daughter dance at my school, this was super magical and cool. I got to dance with my dad to all my favorite songs,” she said.

Doctors say Ava’s new heart is working well and her recovery looks promising. Her mom believes there’s a deeper reason for her daughter’s survival.

“I know that God has given her this gift to do something amazing,” Jamie said. “I don’t know what that is yet, but I know that she is here for a reason.”

Stories like this speak to what matters most—strength, faith, and the love of family. If you know someone facing hard times, let them see hope in Ava’s story.

Wyatt Matters

Middle America understands that it’s faith, family, and community that help us endure our hardest trials. Ava’s journey proves that miracles still happen, and that support from those who care can move mountains.

Read more at Daily Caller