Reported by: Debbie Cafazzo
Tacoma News Tribune
Web produced by: Jessica Noll
Inside little Mia McDonald beats the heart of an angel. Five-month-old Mia is alive, thanks to a donated heart from an infant who died.
The heart donation and subsequent transplant, on Nov. 10, left Mia's parents, Mimi and John McDonald, in awe of the anonymous family whose deep pain gave birth to their great joy.
"I think about that mom, dealing with the death of a baby," says Mimi, 27.
"You mourn that child. Knowing that someone out there is feeling that way, and that we are the beneficiaries of their selfless gift - it is a very raw emotion."
"It's hard to express your gratitude," says John, 32. "'Thank you' doesn't quite say it."
Mia's tumultuous journey into this world was handicapped from the start.
When Mimi was six months pregnant with her daughter, she learned that the baby's heart valves were not developing properly. Blood pooled in the baby's heart, and it was abnormally enlarged.
"I knew something was wrong," says Mimi, who could tell by looking at an image of her baby's heart that there was a problem.
Mimi already knew a lot about heart problems, which run in her family. Both Mimi and her father are affected. In years past, Mimi had undergone three heart surgeries, including an operation to give her a new heart valve from a human donor.
Mother and baby shared a similar heart defect. But Mia's was much more serious. The doctor told Mimi that if Mia survived, the baby would need a heart transplant.
"He didn't even know if she would make it to term," Mimi recalls. "But week after week, her heart kept holding strong. She held on."
Mia was born July 8 at University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, then was immediately transferred to Seattle's Children's Hospital and Medical Center. It was days before Mimi could hold her baby.
Mia underwent a surgical procedure designed to help her heart function while she waited for a donor, and by late July, she was placed on the official donor waiting list.
By August, Mia was well enough to go home, but her stay was short-lived. "She was supposed to be able to wait for a heart at home," Mimi says. "They discharged us on a Wednesday, but by Sunday, she had to be life-flighted (via helicopter) back to Children's."
Mimi spent most of her time at the hospital with the baby, while her husband, John, and other family members helped with their two older children, 5-year-old Jensen and 3-year-old Ellie, at home in Puyallup. Mia's siblings were able to visit her occasionally, and Mimi and John posted pictures of the baby on their family blog so Jensen and Ellie could keep track of their baby sister's progress.
"I was mostly at the hospital, and they wanted their mommy back," says Mimi. "I had to tell them that the baby needed a new heart."
Mia's breathing tube meant that family members could touch her hand, but they couldn't pick her up.
"The way I bond with others, especially family, is a physical thing," John says. "I love to hug my kids and hold them. I was terrified that my baby was going to pass away without me being able to snuggle her."
"The hardest thing for me was knowing that they were going to remove a part from my baby," Mimi says. "It was really hard for me to swallow."
But as time progressed and Mia grew more fragile, Mimi gradually came to terms with the idea of a transplant. "I knew it was the only way," she says.
John says the power of prayer helped his family through their trials.
"Not just my prayers, but prayers from tons of people I didn't know," he says.
A friend set up a blog -- helpbabymia.blogspot.com -- to share the family's story and to help raise funds for expenses not covered by insurance. As their story spread through cyberspace, the McDonalds were soon receiving thoughts, prayers and assistance from strangers as well as friends.
"The beautiful thing about this situation is that it really brings out the best in people," says John.
The family received a call on Nov. 9 that a donor heart was available.
Mimi had tried to visualize what it would be like to get that all-important call. When it finally came, she says, "it was really humbling."
Immediately after the transplant at Children's Hospital, the McDonalds could see a big improvement in Mia. "The second she came out of the recovery room, she looked better," John says. "Her skin was pink, her breathing was slower. Her little body was like, 'Thank you.'"
Less than a month after receiving her new heart, Mia returned home on Dec. 5.
Having their baby home has been a source of comfort for the McDonalds. But their new life is far from routine.
Mia takes 14 drugs. "We have to give her medication every few hours, and some of them upset her stomach," John says.
Mimi, who has been pumping breast milk for her baby for months, hopes she will be able to wean Mia from her feeding tube soon. "I am aching to nurse my baby," she says. "I have been pumping for so long."
The family also must strike a balance between letting Mia's brother and sister express their affection for the baby and ensuring Mia is safe in their hands.
"They love her to pieces," says Mimi. Ellie wants to help with diaper and clothing changes, while Jensen "is enamored with her," Mimi says.
But she must constantly remind them to be careful not to spread germs to their baby sister.
While the McDonalds would like to meet the family of Mia's donor some day, that decision rests with the donor family. The McDonalds have written a letter to the donor family expressing their gratitude.
"I would like to meet the donor family, to let them know how much this heart is loved," says Mimi.
For now, Mimi says, she is content to hold Mia close, so she can feel her angel heart beating strong.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service)
