HEART UNITES FAMILIES; ORGAN GIFT PROVIDES LIFE AFTER A DEATH.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff WriterWhen Cynthia and Keith Worley met Evan Schneider on Sunday, they instantly felt close to the 2-year-old boy who carries their daughter's heart. For the first time, the Palmdale couple who lost their 3-month-old daughter, Cheyenne, to sudden infant death syndrome sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or crib death, sudden, unexpected, and unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant under one year of age (usually between two weeks and eight months old). met the recipient of her heart, donated do·nate v. do·nat·ed, do·nat·ing, do·nates v.tr. To present as a gift to a fund or cause; contribute. v.intr. To make a contribution to a fund or cause. to little Evan through the Regional Organ Procurement The fancy word for "purchasing." The procurement department within an organization manages all the major purchases. Agency. ``At first you don't see her,'' said Keith Worley, whose eyes filled with tears. ``But you feel that Cheyenne was there.'' It was in October 1995 when Cynthia Worley returned home from her night-shift post office job and found sheriff's deputies waiting for her. They told her that Cheyenne, who had been staying with a baby-sitter, was taken to the hospital after she stopped breathing and her body became cold and blue. Although baby Cheyenne was immediately given life support at the hospital, it was too late. Some of her organs had stopped functioning. Doctors said she was brain dead. Three days later, the Worleys made what they expected to be the most difficult decision of their lives. They agreed to have their brain-dead daughter removed from life-support equipment and to donate her heart - the heart that went to Evan. ``There's no possible way to be able to thank them,'' said Evan's mother, Cristy Schneider. ``Our son is alive because of them. We owe them a lot.'' Cristy Schneider of Maurietta was 31-weeks' pregnant when she and her husband, Steve, were informed by doctors that their unborn son suffered from a severe heart defect. Later, the Schneiders had to decide whether to seek a heart transplant heart transplant Procedure to remove a diseased heart and replace it with a healthy one from a legally dead donor. The first was performed in 1967 by Christiaan Barnard. for their new son, knowing he might die during the surgery, or take their chances that he could survive for a while with the defective defective adj. not being capable of fulfilling its function, ranging from a deed of land to a piece of equipment. (See: defect, defective title) heart that was his at birth. ``We always believed,'' Steve Schneider said about his son's survival. ``We never gave up hope.'' While the Schneiders know there is still a chance that Evan's body could reject baby Cheyenne's heart, they expect always to be grateful for the Worleys' decision to make a gift of life. The meeting of the Worleys and the Schneiders at Central Park in Pasadena, just before a walk to raise funds for research on sudden infant death syndrome, was arranged by the two families after months of writing and telephoning back and forth. ``It's like meeting a long-lost friend that you owe a debt to,'' said Steve Schneider. ``We are very fortunate, very blessed, to meet the Worleys.'' Keith Worley called it thrilling thrill v. thrilled, thrill·ing, thrills v.tr. 1. To cause to feel a sudden intense sensation; excite greatly. 2. To give great pleasure to; delight. See Synonyms at enrapture. to meet Evan. ``At first you're confused,'' he said about the decision to donate an organ from loved one who is brain-dead. `Afterwards af·ter·ward also af·ter·wards adv. At a later time; subsequently. afterwards or afterward Adverb later [Old English æfterweard] Adv. 1. , when the hurt is gone, it makes you feel good that somebody got to live. ``We hope that this will help educate others,'' he added. ``To donate is to save another life, and it's worth it. This is proof.'' CAPTION(S): 3 Photos PHOTO (1-2--Color) (Ran in SAC Sac: see Sac and Fox. SAC - 1. An early system on the Datatron 200 series. [Listed in CACM 2(5):16 (May 1959)]. Edition only) Evan Schneider, 2, returns a smile. At right, his family walks with the family who gave him his heart. (3--Color) (Ran in SAC Edition only) Cheyenne Worley, who died at 3 months, became a heart donor The party conferring a power. One who makes a gift. One who creates a trust. donor n. a person or entity making a gift or donation. DONOR. He who makes a gift. (q.v.) . Terri Thuente/Daily News |
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