Olivia had always been energized– running marathons, working long shifts at the hospital, and chasing after her nieces.

But recently, something had changed. She always felt tired and had trouble breathing, and even walking up stairs made her dizzy. She knew something was wrong.

After several tests, her cardiologist, Dr. Kim, gave her the news—her heart was failing. Olivia had a condition called dilated cardiomyopathy. Her heart muscle had stretched and weakened, making it hard to pump blood. The result included shortness of breath, swelling, and extreme fatigue.

Olivia learned her condition had likely started after a virus attacked her heart muscle years ago. It had slowly worsened over time. Medications were no longer working, and the only remaining option was a heart transplant.

 Olivia was referred to a transplant center. She was added to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), which operates under the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA). There were more than 3,000 people on the heart transplant waiting list. Her doctors evaluated her overall health and determined her urgency level to help prioritize her spot on the list.

Before she could receive a heart, Olivia had to go through three important tests:

Finally, a heart became available. A 29-year-old organ donor had passed away, and the family chose to donate. It was a match.