Keeping Ali going while she waited for a new heart

Little Ali King’s heart was rapidly failing and functioning at just 7% when she landed in the care of the UW Health Kids Heart Transplant Program at American Family Children's Hospital. Ali’s six-month journey was not easy, but it was possible because of generous individuals like you. 

One side of the 2 ½ year old’s heart was pumping at a different pace than the other. Blood had built up in her heart and blood clots spread throughout her body causing strokes that paralyzed her right side. The first step was a 16-hour surgery to implant a lifesaving ventricular assist device. For 128 days, a mechanical pump—purchased with gifts from philanthropy—circulated blood throughout Ali’s body while she waited for a new heart. 

Ali was severely ill for more than a month, but with the support of a team of nurses, doctors and therapists, she got stronger with physical, occupational and speech therapies all while wearing the plastic pump of the Berlin Heart. On July 31, 2024, Ali received the gift of life, and one month later she returned home.

The children’s hospital feels like home for Ali and her mom, Isabella Hagerman, who drive from their hometown, Des Moines, Iowa, for follow-up care. “We got really, really close with the whole team,” Isabella shared. “Every single one of them is fabulous—they are like family.”  Ali’s story is a powerful reminder of how medical care, compassion and generosity from individuals like you work together to help save lives.