My Celebration of Life: My Organ Transplant Journey

Huffington Post | Ola Ojewumi

Photo: Ola Ojewumi Founder, Sacred Hearts Children’s Transplant Foundation and Project

Ten years ago, my life changed forever. My 11-year-old world was turned upside and suddenly I was no longer a little girl.

It was a brisk December morning when I received the call that I had received a heart from the transplant waiting list. A few days later, I woke up receiving word that I had also become the recipient of successful dual heart and kidney transplant. Though doctors predicted that I would not live to see the age of 20, I am defying the odds as a 21-year-old medical miracle.

I had my first near death experience all before I started the 8th grade. Though I was quite young, I knew I was one of the lucky ones. Unfortunately, there are over 114, 971 people waiting for an organ transplant. These numbers continue to grow each day and a large number of those on the transplant waiting list do not survive. Sadly, nearly 18 people die each day waiting for the gift of life through an organ transplant.

As I laid in recovery, I remembered I was a survivor. I survived for a reason and I was given a second chance to live while others did not. Life is a compilation of precious moments that we cannot take for granted because in a split second your life can end.

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