‘I love you and thank you.’ 6-month-old gets new heart just before Christmas

Wading River parents Brian and Ashley Cotter are feeling blessed this holiday season.

News 12 Staff

Dec 27, 2019, 10:19 PM

Updated 1,746 days ago

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Wading River parents Brian and Ashley Cotter are feeling blessed this holiday season.
Their 6-month-old baby Ruby just received a heart transplant – something they've been desperately waiting for ever since she was diagnosed with a rare heart condition back in September.
News 12 first introduced viewers to the family in November when Ruby underwent surgery to install a Berlin heart - a device that mechanically pumped her heart.
The couple stopped working and has been living at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan to be by their child’s side.
The Cotters received word that there was a match for Ruby just this past weekend. Dr. David Kalfa and his team performed the surgery, and said it went “extremely well.”
“There were no issues. We are very happy because the function of the new heart was excellent,” Dr. Kalfa told News 12.
Ashley and Brian were beyond thankful, but say they're still filled with mixed emotions.
“You're really thankful and grateful that your daughter has a chance,” said Brian Cotter.
“But something else really bad had to happen for her to move on with her life,” said Ashley Cotter.
Although the heart donor is anonymous, the Cotters had this message for the family.
“I love you and thank you – and thank you for thinking of other people in your darkest times. Thank you for thinking of somebody else,” said Brian Cotter.
Ruby is likely be discharged from the hospital in a few weeks. She will be on medication her whole life and will need another heart transplant in about 20 years.
A GoFundMe page was set up to help the Cotter family.