'Pinch me, am I dreaming': 7-year-old girl receives life-saving heart transplant
"I was not expecting it at all,맥스카지노 said Mia Snyder, the mother of Roya, who recently received a life-saving heart transplant.
Fifty-three days. That's how long little Roya was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, before she finally got the good news.
"Roya said, 'Pinch me맥스카지노 am I dreaming?' And she made me pinch her little arm," Mya Snyder said.
Roya's parents, Derek and Mya, are running on pure adrenaline after their daughter맥스카지노s heart transplant earlier this week.
"She's doing really well,맥스카지노 Derek Snyder said.
Roya맥스카지노s doctors at the Mayo Clinic say the transplant was successful.
It was a big task because Roya had cardiomyopathy, which means the heart wasn't the right shape, didn't pump right and didn't empty blood fully.
And while Roya has a new heart, her parents recognize their best day is someone's darkest.
"We know that in all of our joy and celebration and our happy tears, we also know that,맥스카지노 Derek Snyder began saying before his wife added, "Something very, very sad just happened at the same time, so it's hard to wrap your head around."
A kid similar in age gave their heart to Roya, something her parents can never express their thanks enough for.
"We're going to set an empty plate at all holidays at the table for them and try to do everything we can to make her have sort of a legacy to this donor,맥스카지노 Mya Snyder said.
The Snyder맥스카지노s have gone through some of the longest months of their life, but what kept them going is support from their community.
"I think we're just very, very grateful for every person that has donated. This was, so far, our darkest hour, and all the light we've been given has been amazing,맥스카지노 Mia Snyder said.
And while she won't have to use her shiny hospital backpack anymore, Roya's parents say her shine will come from her new heart.
"Roya's going to have a long journey ahead of her, but it'll be a great journey,맥스카지노 Derek Snyder said.