congenital heart disease

"[A] story of being born with a heart condition. This is a story of surviving and thriving against the odds. It's about overcoming adversity from birth and any, often lifelong, physical limitations, medical interventions, uncertainty and barriers to social inclusion in order to claim life"--Provided by publisher.

When seventeen-year-old Chiyuki Matsuoka, who will likely die from congenital heart problems before the next snow, meets Toya, an eighteen-year-old vampire who refuses to drink human blood, she tries to convince him to make a partnership with her that would let them both live a thousand years. Although Toya saves her life, he is unwilling to doom Chiyuki to living for a thousand years, so he refuses to make her a full vampire, aware that she will not be able to keep her promise to always be with him.

Jessica Carmel was born with sever congenital heart issues. At four days old she had heart surgery. Her parents had no idea what the future would bring. At sixteen years of age, Jessica's doctor scheduled her for a routine check-up. At that visit he told her there was nothing more he could do and that she needed a heart transplant. Three weeks later she received a new heart but her recovery was long. When she was able to, she went on with her life, through high school and college. Shortly after college graduation she went to the emergency room with severe stomach pain. Her doctors discovered fluid around her heart and then a transplant nephrologist informed her that she was going to need a kidney transplant. Her sister offered a kidney and now Jessica's mom had to deal with two daughters in the operating room.

"Read about Vivien Thomas, a man who helped save lives"--Provided by publisher.