4-22-14 fdl girl undergoes heart transplant surgery

It was a very special Easter holiday celebration for the Rodgers family in Fond du Lac.   Brianna Rodgers is the daughter of Jason and Jessica Rodgers.  Born on August 19^th of last year Brianna was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Right Ventricle Syndrome.  Tamara Blasing is Brianna’s aunt.  Tamara says doctors told the family without a heart transplant Brianna’s long term chances for survival were not good.  On March 22^nd doctors at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin performed a life saving heart transplant.  "She is doing very good, she is a lot more active, she seems a lot more happy when she is playing,"  Blasing told AM 1170 WFDL's Between the Lines program.  "Now she finally got to come home as well."  Blasing says Brianna came home last Friday for the first time since she was born last summer.  Now a local fundraising effort is underway through the Children’s Organ Transplant Association to help the Rodger’s family pay their outstanding medical bills.  Blasing says an estimated $40,000 is being raised by Fond du Lac volunteers.

Donations may be mailed to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association or made online at www.COTAforBriannaR.com.