ST. GEORGE — There aren't many things in life that Abby Doman takes for granted, anymore.
Running, swimming, playing soccer — all were activities she enjoyed before undergoing an emergency heart transplant in 2011 at the age of 12. Over the past year, she has slowly regained her athletic abilities, but hasn't forgotten how quickly they could disappear.
"Last year at this time, I was up at the hospital, really sick, and couldn't really do anything," she said. "Today, I can go running, I can go swimming, I can do whatever I want. I'm just so thankful for the donor family."
Abby collapsed at school May 18, 2011, and was flown to Primary Children's Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with restrictive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease that weakens and enlarges the heart. Her heart was two and a half times the size it should have been. Nearly two months later, she received the heart transplant that will allow her to play soccer again next season.
Abby's donor family chose to remain anonymous, and the Doman family cannot thank them personally for what they have done. So Abby and her mother, Michelle, decided to do something bigger.
They decided to make July 12 — the one-year anniversary of Abby's heart transplant — Pay It Forward for Abby Day. On that day, they hope everyone, regardless of whether they have met Abby or not, will "pay it forward" by doing something for someone else to show gratitude for something that has been done for them.
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Pay It Forward For Abby
Pay It Forward For Abby Day is July 12. Hold open a door, mow someone's lawn, or be a shoulder to cry on. Say "thank you" for what you would normally take for granted. Tell us on Facebook what you plan to do.
{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
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