Stephanie Taylor Smith was born on November 27, 1996 at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital under extremely stressful conditions. We had just discovered hours earlier that she had a congenital heart defect that required surgery for her to survive. She had her first surgery at one week of age and we were home for Christmas. What a miracle! Her second surgery was at 8 months of age and even though she had a difficult recovery we were home in 10 days. Her third and final scheduled surgery was July 21, 1998. She never made it through the recovery.
We knew right away that we wanted to donate Stephanie's organs since she was such a fighter. We wanted to share her spirit and determination to live with others who needed her help.
My mom made the panel with the handprints and heart buttons to symbolize the way my daughter touched every heart she ever met. Even thought she had such a short life she will live on forever!
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Donors & Their Families
