Donor family celebrates Utah heart recipient's high school graduation

By Kelly Just and Molly Farmer, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — Ixel Miguel knows she's lucky she lived to see her own graduation. And she wasn't the only one celebrating Wednesday as she joined fellow West Jordan High seniors in commencement exercises.

Ten years ago, when she was just 8 years old, Miguel's heart was failing, and her only chance of survival was a heart transplant, which she received thanks to the selfless decision of Texas family.

"I couldn't have been here, I couldn't have graduated," she said at a graduation party Thursday attended by her family, the donor's family and her medical team. "Luckily they said yes, and I'm very very grateful."

Miguel was diagnosed with viral myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, which lead to dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. While Miguel's family was awaiting a heart transplant that would save their life, the Kotara family in Texas was experiencing its own tragic loss when 13-year-old Joseph was diagnosed with a brain tumor and died a week later. Joseph's family donated his organs, and his heart now beats in Miguel's chest.

Susie Kotara, Joseph's mother, was at the graduation party hosted by Intermountain Donor Services and called Miguel "the sweetness in our loss."

"Organ donation has been a comfort and just a hope for all of our family," she said.

Kotara said she had never been opposed to organ donation, but had never taken the steps to make it happen, either. It wasn't until her son quickly went down hill following a hemorrhage during a biopsy surgery that a family member reminded her of the option.

"Somebody in the family has to start the thought process," she said. "It takes a brave family member to do that but I would encourage everyone to be that brave soul."

Joseph's liver, skin, heart and corneas all went to different recipients.

His sister, Amy Kotara, said she and Miguel have been in contact for the past five years, and it has brought an additional level of healing to her family. Amy Kotara said she knows Joseph's gift will not be wasted, since Miguel is a great person who volunteers in her community and has plans to become a pediatric registered nurse.

"Being able to see her grow up even though we weren't able to see my brother grow up, it's very comforting," Amy Kotara said. "To know that somebody else was able to live, even though we were going through such a tragic loss."