Our First Recipient: Jen

The first recipient of the Schmidt Healing Hearts Foundation is a special one. Her story is one of courage, perseverance, and strength. We could not be more honored to support her on this path, and we are endlessly proud to walk beside her.

A Journey of Grit and Grace

At a young age, Jen was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. At the young age of eight, Jen’s lungs were attacked by a relentless bacteria that is  very difficult to eradicate. She started to miss a lot of school and fall behind. After fighting this disease  for years, her lung function dramatically declined. Her family moved from California to Colorado for a few medical trials, which showed improvement and she was able to start the 5th grade. By the start of the 6th grade her  lung function further declined. When she turned 12 she was listed for a double-lung transplant in Philadelphia. After only a couple of months on the transplant list she received her first lungs. She was placed in high school in PA despite missing her middle school years. Jennifer had nearly six years with her new lungs. During that time, she also battled PTLD (Post-transplant Lymphatic Disease), PRES (a neurological condition due to pharmacology), and diabetes (transplant-induced).  In addition she also needed a stent to my pulmonary artery. In 2020, Jen became ill, and her lung function took a dramatic decline, despite undergoing the best treatments available. She faced respiratory failure due to chronic allograft organ rejection, resulting in progressive lung failure, and once again Jen was told she needed a second double-lung transplant at 19 years old. She spent four years isolated at home starting in 2020, when the Pandemic began. From 2021 to 2024, Jen was on oxygen 24/7. By 2024, she had to be hospitalized and put on high-flow oxygen and stayed in the  hospital for nearly eight months straight. Her lungs finally arrived due to a miracle direct donation by an FBI member who lost their life in training. It was a miracle because a direct double-lung donation is unheard of. After her recent transplant, Jen turned to social media as a platform for organ donation advocacy, building a growing community on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube where she shares her experiences, journey, and inspiration with other Cystic Fibrosis and transplant patients. Jennifer aims to create a space where people with medical complexities feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Jen is the reason we do what we do. She is our "why."Her story reminds us that behind every diagnosis is a human being someone fighting for their life, their future, and their voice. We’re honored to be part of Jen’s journey and to support her in every way we can.

Thank you, Jen, for your bravery, your advocacy, and sharing your story.

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