By Ben Barry
This is the emotional moment an 11-year-old girl broke the news she’s getting a transplant to her dad – by saying, “daddy, I’m getting a heart.”
Ava Cooper, was born on July 1, 2014, with several heart defects and had her first open heart surgery at just six days old.
In May 2024, a sinus infection escalated – pushing her into heart failure – and she was put on the transplant list.
Ava spent more than 200 days at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, waiting for a donor heart.
Ava Cooper, 11. (Cleveland Clinic via SWNS)
But in March 2025, her mom, Jamie Cooper, 39, received the news that Ava would be getting a new heart.
In an emotional moment, Ava called her dad, Sean Cooper, 39, a car dealer – who was at home with his younger daughter – and said “daddy, I’m getting a heart”.
Ava, from Akron, Ohio, said: “I was so excited and couldn’t believe it was actually happening.”
The heart transplant took place later that month, performed by pediatric and congenital heart surgeon Hani Najm, MD.
Ava in the hospital. (Cleveland Clinic via SWNS)
Following the transplant, Ava was able to return home after eight months in the hospital.
Sean said: “Hearing Ava say those words ‘I’m getting a heart’ was overwhelming.
“After everything she’d been through, we were finally one step closer to coming home for good.”
