Latest news with #familyBond
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Heart Transplant Turns One Mother's Grief Into Another Child's Second Chance (Exclusive)
Lisa Schein's daughter, Maddy, tragically died in an ATV accident in 2022 Schein donated Maddy's heart to Mireya Moody, who was living with a rare heart condition, saving the 8-year-old's life The two families later connected and have since formed an unbreakable bondOne summer afternoon, in a quiet Ohio park, two families, forever connected by loss and hope, came together for the first time. Lisa Schein, 43, placed a stethoscope on Mireya Moody's chest and listened carefully to the heartbeat that once belonged to her own daughter, Maddy. Without pause, Mireya instinctively reached out to hug the grieving mother, forming a bond that words could never fully capture. 'I wanted to soothe her, so I did what I do best,' the 8-year-old tells PEOPLE exclusively. It was a gesture of love, healing, and shared strength – a moment neither of them would ever forget. On April 1, 2022, Schein made the difficult decision to donate her daughter's organs following Maddy's sudden death in an ATV accident. 'She was just a bubbly, fun, energetic 8-year-old,' Lisa tells PEOPLE exclusively. 'She was very witty… She loved to dance, loved to sing. She was always up for anything I suggested. If I went to the store for milk, she was by my side.' Despite the devastation of losing a child, Schein knew she wanted something good to come from it. 'It was almost an instant reaction,' she reveals. 'I knew that I didn't want her death to be in vain.' Maddy became an organ donor, saving four lives. One of those lives was Mireya's. At just 4, Mireya was diagnosed with left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC), a rare condition that severely weakened her heart. 'Her heart just could not sustain itself much longer,' Mireya's mother, Bianca Robinson, 40, tells PEOPLE exclusively. 'It was starting to affect her other organs… her lung had collapsed, and unfortunately, she had to be put on what's called a Berlin Heart.' The device gave Mireya a temporary lifeline as her condition grew more critical. When the call came that a donor heart was available, Robinson was hit with a wave of emotion. 'Of course I'm relieved – my child is going to have a second chance at life,' she reflects. 'But I also knew what that meant for this other family… I didn't know them at the time. I didn't know how old the child was… I just knew the likelihood that it was a child, and this other family is going to be living out the nightmare we didn't want to ever have to face.' Mireya's transplant was successful, and she slowly regained her strength through therapy sessions. While there were some minor setbacks and brief hospital stays, she began living the life of a normal child again. 'She's doing great,' Robinson shares. 'You know, in a situation like this, it's easy to prepare for the worst… But she's only had a few minor health issues. Nothing too serious.' About two years after the transplant, Robinson and Schein finally connected. Their first meeting, in August 2024, was deeply moving for both mothers. 'It was way more emotional than we thought it would be – and on both parts,' Schein says. 'It was just such a great feeling… knowing that [Maddy] was living on. The fact that Mireya wouldn't have made it without that, I think, helped heal my heart a little bit.' After spending the day together, the families discovered surprising similarities between Maddy and Mireya, such as their love for stuffed animals. Schein's family even gave Mireya an avocado plush toy, which she now sleeps with every night, and lovingly named after Maddy. What began as grief grew into a shared journey of healing. 'It was almost like I had already known her,' Robinson says of meeting Schein. 'It's a maternal thing. I felt so comfortable around her… both sides of our families were laughing and sharing stories as if we had known each other forever.' Committed to carrying on Maddy's legacy, Robinson and Mireya have participated in the annual 5K event held in her honor, which takes place in Logan, Ohio, every Thanksgiving. It was there that Mireya even got to meet some of Maddy's school friends. 'This coming year will be our third year doing it,' Schein says. 'It's just in her memory, and we try to do some fun things that remind everyone of her. All the proceeds go to benefit a scholarship held in Maddy's name through our local school district.' For both families, organ donation has become more than just a noble idea, but tangible way to make a difference in people's lives. 'I had never thought twice about organ donation,' Robinson says. 'It just simply was something that I would check 'yes' on when renewing my license… but once it became a part of my child's life, I knew how important it really is.' Schein echoed that sentiment with a heartfelt plea, saying she "really hopes people understand" how impactful organ donation can be. "It's not just a box you check on a form," she says. "You have to think about how you would feel if you were the one waiting for that organ or the one saying goodbye to your loved one. You just have to think of it from both sides.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
When my son was struggling with grief, his teacher jumped in to help. I will forever be grateful.
My mom was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in July 2023. She died the first week of October, and I was transparent about our situation with my kid's teachers. She gave my son space to grieve his grandmother, and I will be forever grateful. My mom's passing was completely unexpected. After having beaten breast cancer twice, almost 20 years prior, our family was convinced that her days of suffering were behind her and that she had a long life ahead. That dream shattered in July 2023 when she received a diagnosis of esophageal cancer the same week as her only grandchild's 7th birthday. My mom was my best friend. She had a close relationship with all her kids — my older brother, sister, and me. It was no surprise when she formed the same bond with my son. From the moment he was born, he was her pride and joy. She even asked the doctor if she could hold him before I had the chance to hold him myself. As the baby of the family, I was perfectly fine with passing the torch to my kid, and I could only hope our relationship would be as loving and supportive as the one I shared with my mom. I spent that summer by my mom's side. Before my son came back from being away for the break, I educated him about cancer and how some people with this disease may die from it and explained that his nana might look a little different to him when he saw her again. When they reunited, he said he saw no difference in his nana's appearance and that she looked as pretty as she always did. August arrived, and school began. I was supposed to serve a second year as the Family Ambassador of my son's school, but due to my mother's condition, I had to decline and notify his principal. She was incredibly understanding and told me she would be praying for us. During pickups, she often asked how my mom was doing and offered well wishes. I also informed my son's second-grade teacher about our situation. She, too, was sympathetic and offered to help in any way possible. September was a blur of hospital visits as my mother's health declined. The trips were long, an hour and a half each way. Eventually, she was admitted to the ICU and placed on a ventilator. In the first week of October, the same week that she lost her mother to cancer 25 years prior, my mom died, surrounded by family. We all took the loss very hard, as expected. It was especially difficult for my son, as this was his first experience with a close loss. I decided to take him out of school for the week to focus on making funeral arrangements and spending time with family. His principal reached out immediately to offer her condolences. She reassured me that she would support my son but also extended that support to me, offering comfort during such a difficult time. Her kindness was a source of strength and brought much-needed solace. When he returned to school, my son's teacher checked in with me regularly. He openly expressed missing his grandma, and on many days, she gave him the space to process his emotions, allowing him quiet time on a beanbag chair in a corner of the classroom. I remember one parent-teacher call in which she shared updates on his progress. The news she gave about his resilience and persistence, despite his grief, moved me to tears. I will forever be grateful for her compassion and for giving me the space to cry on the phone with her. She shared her own experiences, assuring me I wasn't alone and that she would continue to monitor my son and help as needed. It's been almost a year and a half since we lost my mom, and I now have a third grader. There are more happy days than sad ones, but the waves of grief still crash over us sometimes. We've received the same understanding from his third-grade teacher, who keeps me updated when my son expresses his grief. On the harder days, she takes the notes I write for his lunchbox and tapes them to his desk, ensuring he knows he always has my love and support. Grief is tough. Parenting while grieving is even harder. But the burden feels a little lighter knowing that when my son goes to school, he's surrounded by these amazing women who genuinely and deeply care for him. Read the original article on Business Insider
