Burke County hospital raises flag in effort to encourage organ donation

MORGANTON, N.C. — A Burke County hospital is inspiring residents to consider becoming organ donors.

A “Donate Life” flag is now flying by the main entrance of UNC Health Blue Ridge.

Channel 9′s Dave Faherty spoke with seven-year-old Ella-Kate Leitner, a heart transplant recipient who helped raise the “Donate Life” flag on Thursday morning. Her mother, Melanie Leitner, spoke about the donation and transplant that saved her daughter’s life at just 10 months old. According to Melanie, her daughter was born with these health problems.

Morganton- met Melanie Leitner and her daughter Ella Kate this morning at UNC Health Blueridge. The two are encouraging folks to become organ donors. The 7-year old is alive today because of a heart transplant. Their story on channel 9 eyewitness news at noon and 5:15. pic.twitter.com/YDrSN6d9b8
— Dave Faherty (@FahertyWSOC9) April 20, 2023

“When she came out, she was a dark gray color, and she didn’t breathe for the first eight minutes of her life,” Leitner said. “What we thought then was the longest eight minutes of our lives.”

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After her birth, Ella-Kate’s family soon learned that a mass was covering 80% of her heart, and doctors didn’t expect her to survive. The Leitners spent the next three months at Levine’s Children’s Hospital and learned Ella-Kate’s only chance of survival was through a heart transplant. Melanie Leitner told Faherty they have not met the family of the donor that gave Ella-Kate a chance at life, but she prays they know their loved one lives on through her daughter.

“I hope to someday meet them. But for right now, I just pray that they know their loved one’s story did not end. That they truly live on through my daughter, and we’re just so thankful for the miracle.”

Ella-Kate is now a creative, active third-grader who loves playing with her younger twin brothers. She told Faherty she loves dancing, gymnastics, and splits.

Her mom is hopeful that sharing their story will inspire others to become organ donors.

“Organ donation is a chance to bring hope to a family who is in some of their darkest moments, and you’re giving people a chance to continue your loved one’s story,” Melanie Leitner said.

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