It is with a very heavy heart that I post today. Early this morning Alexandra Courville passed away. She was Zoe’s friend who received her new heart 2 weeks before Zoe got hers. Aly had been back in the hospital for the last 6 months. Her new heart wasn’t working out and she had recently been re-listed. She suffered a stroke earlier this year & had undergone brain surgery in May or June (I don’t remember exactly). Her kidneys had failed and she was removed from the transplant list because her body was simply too week. Yesterday she made the decision to be put on a mechanical heart, The Berlin Heart http://www.childrensmemorial.org/depts/cardio/thoracic/berlin-heart.aspx, to sustain her while she regained strength enough to be put back on the list. Aly didn’t survive the procedure.
My family holds Aly’s family fondly in our thoughts. Aly was the strongest, bravest person I’ve ever met and she was only 15. She is greatly missed.
July 20, 2009 at 7:25 am
The news of Aly was in deed a huge shock. She was a strong, brave young ‘women’. While only a teenager she has been through hell & back at such a young age & it made her the special friend that she was to Zoe & the family. By seeing her & knowing her she was the rock gave all of us the faith that Zoe would be this thing. She was a true inspiration to Zoe & I know she thought very much of Aly. We will never forget her. We are indeed richer for knowing her & loving her. She will be greatly missed but I hope that someday the comfort in knowing that she is now in a better place as one of God’s Angels protecting the children here will be replaced by the sadness & the loneliness that is our hearts today.
My prayers & sympathy to Aly family & close friends
Nana
July 20, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I am so sad to hear this news. The families of both Alex and Zoe are in my thoughts and prayer’s, they have lost a truly special daughter and friend.
July 20, 2009 at 6:40 pm
BACK IN NOVEMBER, I BECAME FAMILIAR WITH BOTH THE CASAE OF ALEX AND ZOE THANKS TO ONE OF MY DEAR FRIENDS WHO WORKS ON THE PICU AT THE CLEVELAND CLINIC. I AM SO HAPPY TO HEAR, IN FACT ECSTATIC THAT ZOE IS DOING SO WELL. I CHECK THE WEBSITE FROM TIME TO TIME TO CHECK UP. WHEN KATIE HAD GOT THE NEWS ABOUT ALEX THOUGH, SHE WAS DEVISTATED AND SO WAS I. I NEVER KNEW HER PERSONALLY, BUT I GOT TO KNOW HER FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF READING YOUR BLOGS AND HEARING OF HER PROGRESS OR REGRESS FROM KATIE. SHE WILL FOREVER BE REMEMBERED AS AN ANGEL WITH A HEART THAT WOULD NOT STOP. I AM TRULY SORRY FOR THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND I ONLY HOPE THAT IN SOME WAY THAT I CAN HELP EVENTUALLY. YOU ARE ALL IN MY PRAYERS ALWAYS. GOD BLESS.
TOM PAULUS.
July 21, 2009 at 8:05 am
God bless her. Oh, the poor dear. She can rest now. May her family be comforted by her memories and by the courage that girl demonstrated.
September 21, 2009 at 11:31 pm
I dont know Zoe, but Aly led me to her page and i have been trying to keep up with how she is doing. Aly was a huge inspiration to everyone who knew her and to those that didnt. I was a so lucky to have known such a great person like her and i miss her so much. I hope all is well with Zoe and her Family.
-Jennifer from Toledo