New heart gives Baby Mia a second chance

New heart gives Baby Mia a second chance

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Story Published: Dec 2, 2008 at 9:46 PM PDT

Story Updated: Dec 3, 2008 at 11:23 AM PDT

By KOMO Staff

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SEATTLE -- Mia McDonald is smothered with love from her doting sister, Ellie, and big brother, Jensen. Mia's parents had nearly run out of prayers to save their baby.

Five-month-old Mia's condition is a far cry from KOMO's summer visit at which time she so badly needed a new heart.

"We constantly had this worry that if the heart never comes, only one result can come of it," said father, John McDonald.

Doctors predicted the baby's bad heart would last four months. The transplant call came four months and one day later.

"Something I prayed and hoped for and wanted so badly and then all of a sudden, it was here," Mia said.

But Mimi's heart still aches for the parents who lost a child and saved hers.

"It's the strangest human emotion being so dependent on the death of somebody," she said.

Mimi finds it hard to think about that baby.

"I stare at her (Mia) and put my hand over her heart, and think of that little child," she said.

Seven other children hospitalized at Children's Hospital need a new heart.

"There are still plenty of babies upstairs waiting and babies that have passed away waiting, and it's devastating," Mia said.

Mimi hopes to one day meet the family who made hers whole again. She hopes they'll find comfort in knowing their child's heart has found a loving home.

Mia is set to go home Friday, wearing a little bracelet that says "let your heart soar."

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