Our Story

On May 5, 2023, Roya suffered a cardiac event while coming home from kindergarten on the school bus. She was diagnosed four days later with mixed type cardiomyopathy. She was referred for care to the Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis where she had echocardiograms, a cardiac catheter procedure, and was given a heart monitor to wear. She wasn’t initially given any further treatment, but in July she developed worsening nausea, fatigue,...

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Roya Snyder

Duluth, MN

Transplant Type: Heart

Transplant Status: Transplanted

Goal: $200,000.00

Raised: $161,113 of $200,000 goal

Raised by 798 contributors

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Updates

This past year we had more than our fair share of setbacks and miracles. To anyone who is questioning their faith or sanity, hang in there, it will get better. As I write this Roya is singing in the bath, giving it her all; her best Lizzo, “I’m not the girl I was or used to be, but I might be better… I’m gonna be ok.” She has been through hell and back this year and I’m inspired by her grit to be my grittiest, and inspired by her love to be the sweetest mom that I can to her. Today marks one year into her new life with this beautiful heart. She has been weaning off of her meds, from 26 different medications a day at first, to about eight. She has learned to downhill ski and loves to go fast, flying down the hill and scaring her daddy. She recently went to a sleepover camp for heart warriors at Camp Odayin and bravely got on the bus without looking back at us. This is amazing as just this past spring when we returned home from Rochester she was still scared to be alone in her room without a parent. She is checking off the experiences that she longed for while in the hospital; we’ve booked trips and campgrounds, had sleepovers, she was a ring bearer in a wedding, went to the theatre, and so just much laughter and dancing. We also wrote a thank you letter to her heart donor’s family for their gift of life and Roya drew and sent pictures of the different angels that she imagines her donor could be. We have not heard back from them and may not ever, but we will continue to be grateful for their selflessness during very a difficult time. Thank you all so much for your love and support. We couldn’t have done this without your kindness. Thanks SO MUCH to all who sent Roya the heartiversary cards! I’m not sure how this came about or who to thank for putting it in motion but Roya is so excited to open them!

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December 2024 Update ❤️🎄

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Goal Amendment

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The fundraising goal has recently been updated per a conversation between Roya’s family and Rick Lofgren, COTA President & CEO. This letter below from Rick explains the recent... Continue Reading »

Latest Update

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Yesterday Roya was finally discharged from the hospital and unbelievably we had to come back to the ER at 2:30 AM today due to Roya experiencing appendicitis symptoms;... Continue Reading »

Big Day

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Big stuff happened today. Roya was moved from the ICU to the step down unit, she took a real shower, and she got to go outside into the... Continue Reading »

Brave heart

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Roya’s been recovering from her transplant surgery with such perseverance and strength. Despite her ongoing struggles with nausea and high blood pressure she has been able to walk... Continue Reading »

❤️Roya’s New Heart ❤️ 2/29/24

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Yesterday we received the wonderful news that a new heart was on its way to Roya! By 10 am this morning she was out of heart transplant surgery... Continue Reading »

Still Waiting

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Fifty three days so far here at Mayo. I never dreamed that we’d have this as a season of our lives (honestly I just couldn’t have imagined it)... Continue Reading »

A very special THANK YOU! 💝💌💝💌

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