A Transformative Year: Sierra’s Update
Sierra’s story is one of resilience, growth, and self‐expression: a journey shaped by her heart transplant, a loving support network, and her evolving sense of identity and possibility. We recently had the chance to check in with 2025 COTS Ambassador Sierra to learn more about her journey, what the past four years have meant to her, and how she sees her future unfolding. January 11th marks a meaningful milestone in Sierra’s life: the four‐year anniversary of her heart transplant, a day that her family celebrates as a reminder of how precious life is and how much she’s lived. Four years later, Sierra is focused on normalcy, growth, and pursuing the things that bring her joy.
When she’s not attending school or managing her health, Sierra pours her energy into creative and social interests. Art is a central part of her life: a means by which she expresses herself and channels her emotions. She plays guitar passionately, practicing daily and even taking a guitar class at school. Baking cakes with friends in her free time brings her joy and a sense of connection.
This past year has been especially transformative. Sierra transitioned from being homeschooled to attending public school, a change that she was deeply excited about. While homeschooling kept her connected to learning, public school has given her something she truly values: the ability to separate her school life from her medical life and engage with peers in everyday ways.
Her mom, Lisa, has watched her flourish, noting a newfound confidence and sense of self that’s emerged since Sierra began attending school in person. Reflecting on her transplant journey from the moment she received her new heart to today, Sierra says what surprises her most is the passage of time: how quickly the years have flown by and how many early memories have faded. Her mom describes transplant care not as a cure, but as something that keeps her alive and thriving while recognizing it’s a lifelong path of awareness, management, and choice.
In 2026, Sierra is celebrating her fourth heart transplant anniversary.
Sierra dreams big for her future. In ten years, she sees herself independent, and living a life she has chosen. She imagines having a meaningful job, living in an apartment with a roommate, perhaps closer to Vancouver, and building a life filled with everyday moments. She dreams of travelling (especially living in Australia for a year) and taking road trips with friends in the car that she’s already chosen as her first vehicle.
Support has been essential along the way. Sierra’s dad has been a calm and grounding presence for the family, helping maintain steadiness through challenges. Her younger brother brings joy and laughter to everyday life. Members of their church community have offered important social and spiritual backing. And at home, Sierra’s Labradoodle, Lexy, is the first thing she wants to see when she walks through the door: a source of comfort, joy, and unconditional love.
For Sierra, life isn’t defined solely by her transplant or milestones. She treasures her guitar, her art, her friendships, and the growing freedom she’s building for herself. Four years after her transplant, her journey continues to be one of growth, independence, and intentional living. Sierra reflects on moving past the shock and trauma of her early years to now live each day with confidence, hope, and purpose, fully embracing her second chance and inspiring others with her strength and grace.