In 2017, Ivy McLean was diagnosed with a rare congenital mutation of the DES gene that has affected her heart. She was a healthy child up until age 11, when she experienced several fainting episodes and then cardiac arrest on the morning of February 24th, 2017. After a call to 911, she was rushed to a local ER where a temporary pacemaker was placed. Later that afternoon, she was transferred to Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach, where a permanent pacemaker was implanted for complete heart block. After several weeks of speech, occupational, and physical therapy, she was finally discharged home, returned to school, dancing, and leading a normal life.

The following year, Ivy’s mom noticed a curvature of her spine which led to a diagnosis of scoliosis. Unfortunately, after a year of painful bracing and physical therapy, her scoliosis had become severe enough to require surgery. In 2019, Ivy had her spinal fusion procedure. After a speedy recovery and healing, she unexpectedly developed a pleural effusion (fluid surrounding her lung). This resulted in readmission to the hospital for placement of a chest tube to drain the excess fluid. Although this was a setback, she again returned to the normalcy of life including traveling, socializing, playing the stand-up bass in her school orchestra, and participating in Bollywood dancing with her best friend. 

Recently, in the summer of 2021, at age 16, after over four years of being heart stable, Ivy suddenly experienced two episodes of atrial fibrillation (rapid, irregular heart beat) and was hospitalized for both. The first occurrence was treated successfully with medication; however, the second time, doctors had to perform a cardioversion (electric shock to return heart to normal rhythm). Following these events, she was referred to the UCLA Pediatric Heart Transplant team. After further evaluation including a heart catheterization that measured the pressure in her lungs, Ivy was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy and on October 21st, 2021, was put on the list for a heart transplant. Ivy remains in good spirits and is currently awaiting this precious gift from a donor.

We have partnered with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) for assistance with transplant-related expenses. COTA will help Ivy and her family, throughout her lifetime, with various transplant-related expenses such as loss of income from work, cost of medications, medical copays, insurance premiums, travel expenses, and anything else related to the heart transplant. Please consider donating to COTA for Ivy.

Thank you for your continued thoughts, support, and keeping Ivy in your hearts!

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. COTA is the nation’s only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy children and young adults. 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of our patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free to our families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.