Brooklyn’s Heart Transplant Journey, Owensboro, KY (2025)

07/10/2024

After Romp 2023, I didn’t even know if I’d be here for Romp 2024. It is a surreal feeling to know I was not guaranteed to make it to next year. The fact that I’m here standing strong is beyond heartwarming for me. It’s hard to wrap my head around at times how sick I really was. Last year, any amount of walking/standing was really really hard for me and even made me get sick. This year, I was able to walk the whole entire way without difficulty!! I even walked all the way to the back of which was a HUGE goal I had!! The 2023 me would have thought you were insane if you told me I was able to walk without any difficulty!! The fact that I was so blessed to enjoy dancing, fellowshiping, and the fantastic food is hard to take in at times. All I can say is, I owe every moment I’ve had to my donor. In the 2023 photos, I look so pale and yellow/grayish. In 2024 I have a strong heart pumping, and blood flowing in my veins. I will always be pale and, even at times glow in the moon😂, but I am so thankful for the pink in my cheeks!! One of my milestones in 2023 was to survive and make it to Romp! I am so blessed I was given the opportunity to attend and have the best time! So thankful for every day of this life! I hope this post reaches someone who needs this message! For that someone, I know it may look like the next year is impossible. I know that moving forward may seem like a silly dream. However, God has a plan. You will make it through❤️

07/05/2024

Hey everyone!! I know it’s been a while…I’m proudly able to say that I’m ready to resume sharing my journey. There have been some hard moments with adjusting back to normalcy, but I’m ready to share with you all how life has been. I am so blessed to say that I have been rejection-free for 9 months!!! I am also proud to say that my heart-caths have lowered to once a year!! I have a whole lot to share with you all and I’m so excited!! Thank you all for sticking around and being patient with me. Your support, love, and understanding makes this all feel like a dream come true. I’m so glad to be back and show you how my life has been. Here are a couple smiles that God blessed me to have. I am so grateful for this life and I am overwhelmed by the support and love. Thank you all. You all are so AMAZING!! 🥳❤️

12/27/2023

I successfully moved back home on November 20th, 2023. Being home has been an absolute blessing. There have been many ups, but also some downs. Over the past month I’ve felt every emotion you could possibly think of. I have let myself slip on my updates and I finally feel at a place where I can pick back up, as life begins to return to normal. Through all of this, I’ve learned that this transplant is one of the biggest blessings I will ever receive, alongside a grieving process. Grief works in mysterious ways, but I am beyond grateful for the continuous support and understanding. That being said, let’s catch up!! 🥰

I started off being the date of the most handsome guy out there!! Jadon and his family invited me to a wonderful military ball. I was also able to take one of my best friends/AMAZING cousin with me. Who doesn’t love getting all fancied up, wearing a formal dress, and dancing with your favorite people?!❤️

I was able to see some of the most amazing people out there. I was so excited to see my work family. They have been nothing but uplifting, understanding, and loving towards me. I couldn’t ask for better coworkers in my life❤️

All throughout my hospital stay and Nashville stay I could only think about two things; Thanksgiving and Christmas. Getting to meet that milestone of being with my family and home for thanksgiving was indescribable. It was so amazing to spend time with my family and eat some delicious food😉

I instantly got into the Christmas spirit this year. I went all out decorating my room along with our house. This year we added 3 new trees to the house…you can never enough! Decorating, gingerbread houses, cookies, movies, and lights were all it took to make this girl happy❤️

Christmas always reminds me how fortunate I am. This year made me realize how special these holidays really are. This transplant has put life into perspective for me. I am extremely blessed. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. I know papaw was right there smiling❤️

I had a right heart-cath on December 20th. I can proudly say there was no rejection!!!!! I have a returned heart-cath in a month!!

11/13/2023

Hello everyone! have been blessed to have such a positive week and weekend!!!!🫶

The biggest celebration I have is that on 11/08/23 I had a successful right heart-cath and biopsy. There was thankfully 0 rejection, and my valve is still maintaining a good status. I have also thankfully been able to increase my workouts at Cardiac Rehab. Each session I am getting stronger and pushing harder.

My scar has been something I have come to love. It was a little hard at first to see that big of a change on my body. It can be quick to dismiss a big change as something negatively. It took a little time and a positive mindset, but I’ve been able to come to love my scar more and more. Each day I look at it and remind myself of the AMAZING gift I’ve been so blessed to receive. I hope that others who struggle with seeing changes on their body, whether it be a scar or mark, learn to love and embrace it as well. Embrace what makes you unique. Embrace the hard-earned, well-achieved scars… it only shows how strong you are. So yes… I will be wearing the bikinis with pride this boating season❤️

For this upcoming week, I have a left heart-cath on 11/14/23. I am hopeful for some continued good news!! Also……if everything continues to go as it has…. I get to be released to come home November 20th!!!! It has been a journey well worth it to celebrate this new chance of life with my loved ones on Thanksgiving.

I hope everyone has an amazing week. As always, words can’t express the thanks I have for each and every single one of you! Your calls, texts, comments, gifts, prayers, and love mean more to me than you will ever know. God has blessed me more than I can even describe. He has blessed me more than I will ever be able to repeat. Stay safe and know each and every single one of you are loved!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

10/30/2023

This weekend was definitely one for the books!! I’m most definitely in the Halloween spirit now🎃🧡

Thursday 10/27/23:
I completed an entire session of cardiac rehab. I was able to accomplish more than they thought. If all goes well I should be able to make progress faster and get home quicker!! My strength is coming back.

Friday 10/28/23:
I had my second biopsy and right heart-cath post transplant. The procedure went smoothly and I can proudly say there was no rejection!! I was able to catch up on much needed sleep and have a relaxing night.

Saturday: 10/29/23:
Jadon was able to come down for a visit and we decided to carve pumpkins! Jadon is definitely more artistic than me, but it definitely got us in the spirit. I of course had to make my pumpkin heart-themed🥰

Sunday 10/30/23:
Jadon and I decided to take a little hike at Radnor Lake. It felt so nice to be able to walk around in nature and not be immediately exhausted. The view was beautiful, and the weather was perfect!

I hope everyone is doing well! I’m hoping for continued progress for this week🎃🧡

10/23/2023

Hello all!!! I apologize for being so behind on posting!! I do plan on continuing daily updates!! This week has definitely been something, but all is AMAZING!!

Let’s catch up shall we? Here was some eventful things that happened from the previous week🥰

Sunday 10/15:
I was so fortunate to be able to spend the weekend celebrating my dad’s birthday!! Shoutout to Curtis Maglinger for being the best dad out there!🥳

Tuesday 10/17:
I got a surprise visit from my Nini and Uncle Brad!! It was so nice to see them and was spoiled with an Italian dinner. I’m very blessed to have them in my life🩷

Wednesday 10/18:
I had my first clinic visit since the transplant!! My tricuspid valve regurgitation went from severe to moderate. We are hopeful for the valve to resolve on its own!! We were very thankful for the good news. My veins also have healed some so the lab draw was easy and painless!! I also got news that my goal is to be home official before Thanksgiving (if not sooner)!! To end the day, two of my amazing best friends Rylee and Kealey surprised me with a visit!! I was so happy to see my girls🫶

Thursday 10/19:
I completed my first official day of Cardiac Rehab! I was able to walk around and not feel fatigued. As time goes on my strength is only improving. I definitely have noticed a complete difference from life before transplant. My strength and stamina continues to amaze me, and I know I’m only at the weakest point. I can already do so much more than I ever was able to. I am excited to see myself at my full strength!

Friday 10/20:
I was able to take my first day trip home to Owensboro!! I was able to see my puppies for the first time in a month! Graham came right up to me and didn’t leave my side! Poor Cooper took my leave the hardest… I got the silent treatment. It took a while for him to stop being sad which broke my heart. However, with the help of cheese, snuggles, and pets he was back to normal😁I’m so fortunate to be able to take even more day trips!! It felt so good to be in my own house. Definitely was a surreal experience walking in my doors.

I spent the weekend walking around the mall, eating some amazing food, and enjoying time with my parents and Jadon. Jadon’s parents AND grandmother surprised me with a quick visit. I am so fortunate to have such an outpouring of love.

How was everyone’s week?? I hope you guys are doing good!! 💕

10/15/2023

Day 16 & 17:

On Friday the 13th, I was successfully able to be discharged from the hospital!!!! It was a long journey in the hospital, but praise God to finally being moved into the apartment. I am so blessed to have such an outpouring of support, prayers, and encouragement. Thank you to everyone who took the time to pray and lift me up. Your kindness means more than you’ll ever know.

This Saturday, I was able to accomplish a huge goal…walking at a NORMAl pace and distance. With precaution and masks, I was able to walk with my dad to a store. It’s crazy to think about how good I feel in just a matter of 2 weeks.

The hard part is over. I accomplished a huge battle. There is only growth and more accomplishments to come. Thank you to everyone following my journey. I don’t even look like the same person!! God is so good!❤️

10/12/2023

Day 14 and 15:

Yesterday and today weren’t exactly the news I wanted to hear. I was told that my pressures on my heart were elevated on Wednesday, and that I would have to stay 2 extra days to release fluid. As of right now, there isn’t a concern for the pressures in my heart and a slightly leaky tricuspid valve. I wish I could hear the news that my new heart is doing absolutely perfect, but I have to trust that everything is going to workout in the end. I have to give this slight bump in the road to God’s hands. Thankfully there are solutions. It has been a little harder to stay positive, but I am having a bunch of fluid come off. We are hopeful for a release on Friday.

Thankfully a picture of my puppies, a surprise visit from Kealey and Jackson (forgot to take a picture), and another surprise visit from Jadon and Andrew helped. I’m so blessed with amazing people in my life🫶

10/11/2023

Day 13:

Here is lil’ pre-transplant photo that I had to share😂🩷

Good news today!!! The right-heart cath and biopsy was completed. If all goes well, and I release enough fluid off of me, the plan is set for a release tomorrow!! Thank you all for the prayers, and I’m hopeful that tomorrow is indeed the last day🙌🥳

10/09/2023

Day 11-12:

I had some of my FAVES over to see me! Everything has been smooth sailing… praise God. It has been a little slow, but we are getting closer and closer to be discharged. Tomorrow is when I will have my right heart cath and biopsy. It will take about 24 hours before I get the results. If all goes as planned, I should be released on Wednesday! Hope everyone is doing well🥰

Brooklyn’s Heart Transplant Journey

07/10/2024

07/05/2024

12/27/2023

11/13/2023

10/30/2023

10/23/2023

10/15/2023

10/12/2023

10/11/2023

10/09/2023

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