Juniper's Heart, Part 3 of 3
Photographer Joni Schrantz's daughter Juniper received a heart transplant on September 17, 2014. She is curating the Your Shot assignment "The Gift of Life," inviting you to share who and what you are grateful for, and about why life is special for you.
Photography and story by Joni Schrantz Her daughter Juniper received a heart transplant on September 17, 2014.
(16/21) “Organ donation is life where there would otherwise be death. It is light in darkness. It creates beauty from sadness. I have met many donor families who have found peace in their loved one’s passing because of the gift they have given to others. To know that their loved ones’ death was not in vain is a powerful feeling. Their loved one performed the most selfless act imaginable through their transition: saving the lives of strangers.
I believe this is what humanity is at its core. It is the reason for living: love. Acts of love are why we are here on this planet. Organ donation is the ultimate embodiment of just that. To do something that will bring no benefit to yourself, goodness for goodness sake is something we should all strive for. I don’t believe there is a better way to die. Juniper’s donor will always be a part of our story and lives on in a way, through her.”
(17/21) “To the mother of our daughter's heart donor – Our girl turned two (February 12, 2016). I say our, because there is a part of my daughter that I share with you, because you first shared a part of your daughter. The day you said ‘yes’ to organ donation, our lives became intertwined indefinitely. I can't imagine the world of pain, anger, and incredible sadness you were in when you were asked if you would carry out this single selfless act. In that moment, for some reason your thoughts were not of yourself, they were of others. This is how I know you are a good person, not because of what my family has gained from your decision, but because in your darkest hour, you thought of the children who would get to live if you said yes. There are no appropriate words to express the gratitude we feel on a monthly, weekly, and hourly basis because of your decision. I hope you know this. Your daughter's heart allows my daughter to celebrate, and to live. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
(18/21) “After being sick for her entire first year of life, we knew Juniper had a lot of living to catch up on. She’s since seen the ocean. She’s met the people behind the Berlin Heart. She’s been to Texas, North Carolina, California, Maryland, New Mexico and Oregon. We got her a rescue dog of her own named Otis; he is her best friend and she follows him everywhere. In the fall, she’ll start preschool.
She celebrated her 3rd birthday recently. She’s obsessed with dogs, Sesame Street and Tupperware. You would never know what she’s been through just by looking at her. After her brain injuries, they said she may never walk; she not only walks, she runs. They said she may never talk; she not only talks, she sings."
(19/21) “Sometimes I wish she could stay this age forever. I dread the day she fully understands what has happened to her, that her heart won't last forever and she'll need another one to live. Luckily that day is far away. For now, I do my best to be grateful that she's here.”
(20/21) "I look forward to telling Juniper her story one day. A story about a tiny baby who entered the world not on a peaceful day, but rather in a storm, a storm so scary and turbulent that not many thought she'd live to see calmer days. I'll tell her about her parents who had no idea what the hell they were doing... but slowly learned to navigate their new reality and somehow managed to muster up every ounce of hope, strength and optimism they had within them to see the blue skies beyond the dark clouds. She'll hear all about the army of supporters who cheered her on and showered her parents with so much love that they were constantly reminded of just what it was their young baby was fighting for. There are still chapters to be written, surely some with gray skies and a storm or two. But we will continue to seek the glimmers of light amidst the darkness and remind ourselves of how lucky we are to have a story to tell and to have chapters still unwritten."
(21/21) “Life is a gift for us all: something we are given. It comes with no strings attached, and no knowledge of what its packaging will hold inside. It may contain elements of surprise that are unwelcomed, but pushes us to become better because of them. To accept the unwanted bits as opportunities to grow and to become better people on the other side of them, is to conquer. The hard times force us to examine what is truly important in life and revel in simple things. So far, we’ve been given extra days with our daughter to love her, to laugh with her, and to hold her. Extra days that we were not promised. Juniper’s fight and our days with her have given us a unique perspective on time, what it means to be alive and the gift of life we’ve been given.”
To read part 1 of Joni's story, click HERE
To read part 2 of Joni's story, click HERE
To read more stories featuring people connected by the decision to say yes to the gift of life, go to The Waiting List on Facebook or Instagram. Register as an organ donor at Donate Life America
Together we will #endthewaitinglist one story at a time.
