12/01/2025
In 2015, shortly after graduating from college, Olivia was diagnosed with heart failure and was told that she would need a heart transplant. Today, Olivia shares her story to encourage others to register their decision to be a donor.
“Shortly after graduating from college, I began experiencing fatigue, shortness of breath, and pain with eating or exertion. Despite always being active, I was struggling to workout and didn’t feel myself. I was urged to go to the hospital by my employer and learned I was in heart failure. Within days, I was told I needed a heart transplant, and by the end of that week, I had an LVAD, my “Chad the VAD”, implanted to keep me alive.”
“The device allowed me to regain strength, return to work, and wait for my transplant. After one “dry run” in November 2016, I received my real call while living on Martha’s Vineyard. I caught the last ferry of the night to the mainland and received my heart transplant on December 1, 2016.”
“As my physical health improved, I struggled with the emotional weight of receiving someone else’s heart. After years of wondering, I was finally connected with my donor’s family in January 2025. I learned that my donor was a 23-year-old woman named Nora, who was kind, intelligent, compassionate, and deeply devoted to children and animals. She also struggled with addiction, and her passing is the reason I am alive today. Through email, I was able to connect with both of her parents, and I am forever grateful for the conversations we shared. ”
“After recovering, I felt compelled to give back to the community that had supported me. I earned my EMT certification, worked for two island EMS services, and fell in love with emergency medicine. That passion led me to become a volunteer firefighter and, eventually, a nationally certified paramedic. I’ve also remained involved with New England Donor Services and the American Heart Association, sharing my story and supporting their work. I have returned home to Martha’s Vineyard and was recently accepted to a nursing program. I can’t wait to take Nora with me on this next chapter. Everything I do, I do with and for her.”
Thank you, Olivia, for sharing your story!
