New heart, new hope
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- Christine Steele of Hubbard is looking forward to getting her driver's license.
For Christine, who turned 16 on Wednesday, the license that brings more freedom is something special.
In August, the daughter of Jack and Birgit Steele received a new heart at the Cleveland Clinic.
Reason for transplant: She had suffered with restricted cardiomyopthy, a stiffening of the heart walls that caused the blood to back up in the body. There is no cure, except for a transplant.
It wasn't unusual for her to suffer miniheart attacks, experience chest pain and dropping blood pressure. She took nitroglycerine to ease the pain.
Christine said there's no sign of rejection since her surgery and she's already gotten her driving permit.
"I'm getting along pretty good," said the 10th-grader, who hasn't returned to the classroom.
She's keeping up on her studies with a weekend tutor and help from Hubbard High classmates, anxious to return to school the first of the year.
When Christine isn't studying, she's watching TV or working on the computer.
"I don't do much during the day. I'm lazy," she said with a laugh.
After school, friends come over to her Chestnut Ridge Road home and they run around together.
Recovery routine: As part of her recovery, Christine is supposed to exercise on a stationary bike 30 minutes a day to regain her strength.
"I haven't made it for the 30 minutes yet," she noted.
Christine had given thought before her transplant of going into the computer field. Now, it's the medical field -- cardiology with children.
The donor: Christine only knows that her donor was a 15-year-old girl from Tennessee who died in a car accident in which her older sister survived.
Christine said she wants to contact the girl's family. She will be sending a letter through a third party, an organ donor organization.
She isn't allowed to give her last name, where she lives or details about where she received the transplant.
"This has been a very tough year for our family. It was the hardest thing we ever had to do," said her mother. "We're still trying to make up for lost time."
Christine has received thousands of cards, letters, gifts and donations, her mother said.
"We are truly blessed to live in Hubbard, a wonderful town where everyone pulled together to help our family," Steele added.
"It was uplifting for Christine to see how many people really cared for her. That's why our prayers were answered," she said.