One Family, Two Heart Transplants: The Dyes Celebrate Daughter's First "Heart-A-Versary" (Dad Celebrates His "Heartday" In December) - # - MyPaperNow.com - Your Stories. Your Life ©

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Heart transplant recipients Stephanie Dye and her father, Tom, receive the gift of life at Tampa General Hospital over the course of three years and three months. The Valrico, Fla., family celebrates "heart-aversaries" each year for both father and daughter.

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Stephanie Dye celebrated her first "Heart-A-Versary" on Sept. 7, 2008 in her home in Valrico, Fla. The University of South Florida student received a new heart Sept. 8, 2007, three years and three months after her father, Tom, received his heart transplant. The Dyes are believed to be the only father-daughter heart transplant recipients in the country. Both received their new hearts at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Fla.

RELATED COVERAGE:The Dye Family Of Valrico Celebrates Two Heart Transplants In Three Years (And Three Months)
A Fifth Heart-Aversary For The Dye Family; Father Received Gift Of Life In 2004; Daughter’s Transplant Three Years Later

Tom Dye and his daughter, Stephanie, celebrate her first "Heart-A-Versary" on Sept. 7, 2008.

Father and daughter say they never will forget the incredible gift of life they've been given by families in their grief. "I'd like to be able to tell my donor's family what they did for my family," Tom Dye says. "They allowed the children to continue to have a father and the wife to continue to have a husband." As for Stephanie, he adds, "they allowed her parents and her brother to continue having a daughter and a sister."

Tom Dye underwent his heart transplant on Dec. 9, 2004. Stephanie received her new heart on Sept. 8, 2007. Both father and daughter had their transplants at Tampa General Hospital and they are believed to be the only father-daughter dual heart transplants in the United States.

The family, including wife and mother, Judy, and brother, Daniel, is committed to raising awareness of the need for organ, tissue, and bone donors. Family and friends say the family's courage under fire should be an inspiration to all.

Photo by LINDA CHION KENNEY
"It's a badge of honor, my scar," said Stephanie Dye, pictured in 2007, three months after her heart transplant, when the scar was more pronounced. "What I've been through is a big deal and I shouldn't have to hide something up that I'm proud of. You shouldn't let the beauty regulations dictate how you dress."

Photo by LINDA CHION KENNEY
Tom and Stephanie Dye of Valrico say they will never forget the incredible gift of life they've been given by families in their grief. They're pictured here at Tom's third "Heartday" celebration in December 2007. "I'd like to be able to tell my donor's family what they did for my family," Tom Dye said at the time. "They allowed the children to continue to have a father and the wife to continue to have a husband." As for Stephanie, he added, "they allowed her parents and her brother to continue having a daughter and a sister."

Stephanie Dye knows what she would tell her heart donor if she could: "Words can't express how thankful I am for giving me my life back." Stephanie Dye, with her mother, Judy, says being an organ donor "is the most important thing you can do."

"It's the last act of generosity that a person can give," she adds. "It's the gift of life."

Stephanie turned 18 on Aug. 17, 2008. Three months later, on Sept. 8, she received a new heart from a donor she doesn't know. All the family knows is that the donor was not local, but not at a great distance, either. And he was "youngish" and gave Stephanie a heart that was "a perfect fit." As Judy Dye put it last year: "As a mother I can't even fathom the depth of (his family's) sorrow. As a mother, I will be forever grateful for this gift, the gift of life, and we will do our very best as a family to help Stephanie be able to take care of this heart so that she will forever honor his memory."

Stephanie Dye shows off the tatto she received in commemoration of her dad's heart transplant in December 2004.

Stephanie Dye celebrated her first "Heart-A-Versary" on Sept. 7, 2008 in her home in Valrico, Fla. The University of South Florida student received a new heart Sept. 8, 2007, three years and three months after her father, Tom, received his heart transplant. The Dyes are believed to be the only father-daughter heart transplant recipients in the country. Both received their new hearts at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Fla.

RELATED COVERAGE:

The Dye Family Of Valrico Celebrates Two Heart Transplants In Three Years (And Three Months)

A Fifth Heart-Aversary For The Dye Family; Father Received Gift Of Life In 2004; Daughter’s Transplant Three Years Later

RELATED COVERAGE:

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Stephanie Dye celebrated her first "Heart-A-Versary" on Sept. 7, 2008 in her home in Valrico, Fla. The University of South Florida student received a new heart Sept. 8, 2007, three years and three months after her father, Tom, received his heart transplant. The Dyes are believed to be the only father-daughter heart transplant recipients in the country. Both received their new hearts at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Fla.

RELATED COVERAGE:The Dye Family Of Valrico Celebrates Two Heart Transplants In Three Years (And Three Months)
A Fifth Heart-Aversary For The Dye Family; Father Received Gift Of Life In 2004; Daughter’s Transplant Three Years Later

Stephanie Dye celebrated her first "Heart-A-Versary" on Sept. 7, 2008 in her home in Valrico, Fla. The University of South Florida student received a new heart Sept. 8, 2007, three years and three months after her father, Tom, received his heart transplant. The Dyes are believed to be the only father-daughter heart transplant recipients in the country. Both received their new hearts at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Fla.

RELATED COVERAGE:

The Dye Family Of Valrico Celebrates Two Heart Transplants In Three Years (And Three Months)

A Fifth Heart-Aversary For The Dye Family; Father Received Gift Of Life In 2004; Daughter’s Transplant Three Years Later

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Keywords: 2008september stephanie dyetom dyeheart transplantvalricofloridafatherdaughterheartaversarysept. 7

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