After suffering from serious heart problems since childhood as a result of rheumatic fever, Myriam Correa-Sherman had a heart transplant nearly 15 years ago. Her gift of life enabled her to meet her meet her three grandchildren who were born since her transplant, which inspired to do new things. She now heads a Spanish-language organ donation support group and ran the 5K in the 2006 U.S. Transplant Games in celebration of life and in honor of her donor family.

Myriam's Story

My name is Myriam Correa-Sherman. On March 26, 1991, I received my new heart at the University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital.

As a child I had rheumatic fever and spent most of my adolescent years in and out of hospitals in South America. I moved to the USA in 1975. I’ve also had two open heart surgeries; I was close to death but by the grace of God and the generosity of my donor family in Tampa, I waited only 20 days for a heart.

I have the most caring and loving family and they all helped me to get well. After my heart transplant, I started a new life feeling great and doing things that I never thought I could do before. I am helping others who had heart or lung transplants or are waiting for a transplant.

I run my own Spanish support group and I love it. I like to encourage everyone to talk about organ donation in their homes so that if that big decision has to be made it will be easier for everyone. You never know if it could save your life or that of any member of your family.

On April 1, 1995 I was a speaker at the National Organ & Tissue Donor Weekend in Washington, D.C. I was deeply honored and blessed to be part of this weekend. I will participate in the next U.S. Transplant Games that will take place June 16-21, 2006, in Louisville, Kentucky. I will run the 5K In celebration of life, in honor of my donor family.

I am now the very proud grandmother of 11-year-old Natalia and 9-year-old Carolina, the daughters of my son, Mario, and also 9-year-old Andres Felipe, the son of my daughter, Claudia. I never thought I would be able to meet them.

God Bless you, and thank you from the bottom of my new heart.