Cirye Carpenter

Cirye Carpenter is a 14-year old student at Jobe Middle School in Mansfield, Texas. She is known for her dazzling smile and warm hugs among her friends, teachers and coaches. Cirye is a gifted athlete – throwing discus and shotput on the track team, playing softball and second year playing A team basketball at Jobe.

It was during her basketball games last November that Cirye experienced two life-threatening medical emergencies. The second time was more severe than the first. By the time Cirye sat down on the bench, she was unresponsive, sweating profusely and her lips were turning blue. Her middle school coaches grabbed the school’s AED and a parent, who was nearby watching a different game, stepped in to help with her nursing experience. The group of volunteers stabilized Cirye until an ambulance arrived to take her to the hospital.

Doctors diagnosed Cirye with an extremely rare, life-threatening heart defect called anomalous aortic origin of the left coronary artery. The condition prevents the blood from flowing into one of the chambers of Cirye’s heart. Doctors typically diagnose the defect at birth, and it requires surgery for a patient to survive. Doctors aren’t sure how Cirye got this far without having a major cardiac event, but they believe the exertion required for basketball pushed her too far. They didn’t want to put her under a stress test because they feared it could kill her.

Following much prayer and consideration, Cirye’s parents are preparing for her to undergo surgery in early February to repair her heart. They are people of faith, however, the reality of this situation is a heavy weight. Added to the burden is the anticipated cost of surgery and a hospital stay. They’ve already received a $40,000 bill for the surgery.

Cirye’s dream is to be well enough to one day attend the University of Oklahoma to study and play softball. Please consider contributing to Cirye’s dream and partnering with her family to pay for her medical treatment.