In a small Ohio hospital room, 11-year-old Ava Cooper’s day went from ordinary to unforgettable in mere seconds.
The young girl, who has faced relentless health challenges since infancy, didn’t waste a moment after hearing life-changing news—she picked up her iPad and called her father to share the joy.
A Childhood Marked by Heart Struggles
Ava’s medical journey has been extraordinary from the start.
Born with multiple serious heart defects, she faced complications like a hole in her heart, reversed pumping chambers, a heart located on the opposite side of her chest, and a missing or blocked pulmonary valve, according to Cleveland Clinic.
By age five, she had already undergone four open-heart surgeries, but her condition worsened in the summer of 2024.
Doctors concluded that a heart transplant was her best chance at survival.
Waiting for the Miracle
Ava spent nearly 300 days at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, a place that had become a second home for her and her family.
Finally, the news they had been hoping for arrived: a donor heart was available.
The moment was captured on video, showing Ava sitting on her hospital bed, unaware that the life-altering news was about to be delivered.
A Heartfelt Video Call
During a video chat with her father, a nurse leaned in with a bright smile to whisper the news.
Ava’s hands flew to her mouth in shock, eyes wide as she searched the room for confirmation.
“Daddy,” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement. “I’m getting a heart!”
Her father, stunned and emotional, could only respond, “What?!”
The room filled with tears of joy as Ava repeated the news, her smile radiating pure happiness.
“I was so excited and couldn’t believe it was actually happening,” Ava later shared with the Cleveland Clinic.
Letting Ava Share the News Herself
Dr. Madeleine Townsend, part of Ava’s care team, intentionally whispered the news to Ava so she could tell her parents herself.
“Getting to see Ava’s smile that day is one of the best parts of my job,” she said.
Ava’s father, Sean Cooper, recalled his overwhelming emotions.
“The hospital had become our second home, so hearing Ava say those words, ‘I’m getting a heart,’ was incredible.
After everything she’d been through, we were finally one step closer to coming home for good.”
A Journey That Began at Birth
Ava’s health challenges began almost immediately after birth.
She had to be airlifted to another hospital just days old and underwent her first heart surgery soon after, leaving her mother, Jamie Cooper, unable to hold her newborn at the time.
Despite the early surgeries stabilizing her condition, Ava’s health deteriorated in the summer of 2024.
She experienced facial swelling, struggled to breathe lying flat, and doctors determined she was in heart failure.
She was transferred to Cleveland Clinic Children’s, where a specialized team determined that a heart transplant was the best option.
In September 2024, at just 10 years old, Ava was placed on the transplant waiting list.
Life in the Hospital
During her months in the hospital, Ava faced numerous challenges, relying on oxygen, a feeding tube, and a Berlin Heart device to assist her heart. Despite this, her family tried to keep life joyful.
“We had Sunday dinners, threw birthday parties in her hospital room, and even celebrated Christmas with presents,” Jamie recalled.
A highlight came in February 2025 when hospital staff recreated a father-daughter dance in Ava’s room, ensuring she didn’t miss a cherished annual event.
Sean described it as “one of the best memories I have with Ava, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who made it possible.”
A New Heart and a Fresh Start
Less than a month later, the long-awaited donor heart arrived.
On March 6, Ava underwent transplant surgery successfully and spent the next month recovering.
Her body, weakened from nearly a year of heart failure, needed time to heal.
“I was so excited to be back in my own bedroom and see my dog Rocky again,” Ava said.
By April 10, she was finally able to return home.
“Even though I missed my whole fourth-grade class, I’m excited to see my friends, go on field trips, and do art projects again,” Ava shared, embracing the new chapter in her life.
