The Hearts of a Girl: The Journey Through Congenital Heart Disease & Heart Transplant

A riveting medical memoir about a family’s journey through multiple surgeries, and a determined battle for survival.   Jessica Carmel was born with a severe congenital heart condition. When she was just four days old, her parents learned she would need heart surgery.   They had no idea that her future held multiple surgeries and even more unexpected challenges. Sixteen years later, as Jessica sat in her cardiologist’s office for a routine checkup, he told her and her mom that there was nothing more he could do for her. Jessica needed a heart transplant.   Three weeks later, Jessica underwent heart transplant surgery. Her recovery was long, but good—but about ten years later, she learned that she was in desperate need of a new kidney. Her only hope of survival was her sister, Amy—who heroically offered up one of her own kidneys. Now their mother would be seeing both of her daughters off to the operating room . . .   This remarkable story of one young woman’s journey through the medical maze—including financial struggles and battles with insurance companies—and a family’s determination to survive and thrive together, is both an informative, fascinating look at health care and an uplifting, inspiring read.