'Daddy, I’m Getting A Heart': The Call That Changed Everything

August 23, 2025

For more than 200 days, 11-year-old Ava Cooper called a hospital room in Cleveland her home. Diagnosed with multiple heart defects at birth, she had already endured four open-heart surgeries by the age of five.

But when her health spiraled into heart failure in 2024, her only chance at survival was a heart transplant.

Ava Cooper at Cleveland Clinic / Credit: Jamie Cooper

The long wait finally ended in March 2025.

A doctor quietly whispered the good news in Ava’s ear — a donor heart had been found. With tears in her eyes, she grabbed the phone to video call her dad, Sean.

“Daddy, I’m getting a heart,” she exclaimed.

On the other end, Sean’s voice trembled with emotion. “Oh my goodness … Oh my goodness, Ava.”

It was the moment the family had been praying for.

Ava’s medical journey had been anything but easy. Born with several complex heart conditions, including a hole in her heart and a reversed heart orientation, she needed surgery just six days after she was born. Though she lived nearly five symptom-free years, everything changed in the summer of 2024. What started as swelling and breathing difficulties soon revealed itself as heart failure.

Transferred to Cleveland Clinic Children’s, Ava’s care team determined that another surgery on her own heart wouldn’t help. A transplant was the only option. By September, she was placed on the transplant list. As her health declined, she needed oxygen, a feeding tube, and eventually a Berlin Heart device to keep her alive while she waited.

Despite the challenges, Ava and her family worked hard to create normalcy. There were Sunday dinners in her hospital room, birthday celebrations for her younger sister, Kennedy, and even Christmas morning with presents piled high. One of Ava’s favorite memories came in February 2025, when caregivers transformed a hospital room into a dance hall so she wouldn’t miss her school’s father-daughter dance.

“Even though I had to miss the father-daughter dance at my school, this was super magical and cool. I got to dance with my dad to all my favorite songs,” Ava said. Her father called it one of his most treasured memories.

Just weeks later, the transplant became a reality. Pediatric and congenital heart surgeon Dr. Hani Najm led the surgery, which gave Ava a healthy, beating heart.

“Suffering from severe heart failure, we knew Ava’s transplant would give her a new lease on life,” Dr. Najm said.

On April 10, 2025, after eight months in the hospital, Ava finally walked back into her own home. She was overjoyed to return to her bedroom, reunite with her sister, and play with her dog, Rocky.

“I was so excited to be back in my own bedroom and be able to see my dog Rocky again,” Ava said with a smile.

Her new heart is working well, and her doctors say she’s getting stronger every day. Ava looks forward to returning to school, seeing friends, and jumping back into art projects she loves.

The Coopers say they will forever be grateful for the donor family whose decision gave Ava a second chance. “We can’t even put into words how thankful we are to our donor family. They’re the reason Ava is here today,” said her mom, Jamie.

Ava herself has advice for other children facing long hospital stays: “Try to find ways to stay positive. Even though it’s different than being at home, you can still do the things you enjoy. Try to make the most of each day.”

For Ava, each day is now a gift — and it all began with the most unforgettable phone call a father could ever receive.