Every February, Heart Month invites us to recognize and honor the courage, grit, and generosity that define the transplant community. Few families embody that spirit more than the Lopez family of Arizona. Their story spans generations, their challenges began before birth, and their strength Hugs continues to inspire everyone who meets them.

For Adolfo Lopez, heart disease has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Dateland, Ariz. with congenital heart disease, specifically cardiomyopathy, a condition that weakens the heart muscle. Some members of his family also live with restrictive cardiomyopathy, which limits the heart’s ability to fill properly. Shortness of breath, fatigue, and the constant awareness that something was not right shaped much of his childhood. Hugs. He was often sheltered from sports and physical activity, not by choice, but by necessity.

At 16, Adolfo’s life changed forever. On April 30, 2006, he received a heart transplant at what is now Banner University Medical Center in Tucson. After surgery, he remained hospitalized for months as he recovered and learned to trust his new heart. On July 14, he was finally discharged, but that night he spiked a fever and was rushed back to the hospital. Doctors discovered he needed another surgery to replace his aortic valve. Hugs. It was a frightening setback, but he pushed through with determination. His mother would later receive her own heart transplant, followed by his sister receiving a second transplant. The Lopez family has met every medical challenge with purpose.

Years later, when Adolfo became a father, he and his wife Theresa learned early in pregnancy that their daughters, Adina and Andrea, had inherited the same congenital heart disease. Diagnostics revealed the likelihood that both girls would eventually need transplants. It was a devastating truth, but one the family faced head on. Adolfo, remembering how limited he felt as a child, made a promise: his daughters would get to feel like normal kids. Hugs.Before their transplants, both girls found joy on the volleyball court, building friendships, confidence, and memories that carried them through the hardest days ahead.

In December 2022, after years of monitoring and declining heart function, both girls were officially listed for transplant. Just weeks later, the call they had long prepared for finally came, though not in the order anyone expected. Andrea, then 11, was the better match for a donor heart that became available first. She received her transplant on January 18, 2023. Less than a month later, on February 4, 2023, just one day after celebrating her 13th birthday, Adina received her lifesaving gift. Hugs.

The girls’ surgeries, only weeks apart, launched the family into an intense and exhausting chapter. With one daughter newly transplanted and the other preparing for surgery, Adolfo and Theresa had to split their time between both girls. The Ronald McDonald House at Phoenix Children’s Hospital became a lifeline, offering a place to rest between long days and nights. Adolfo describes that period as running on pure adrenaline. “You do not sleep,” he said, “You are continuously monitoring both girls, making sure they take their medication correctly. Hugs. When a machine starts beeping, you are up making sure they are breathing or figuring out what the alarm is for.” Family and friends stepped in where they could, but the weight of the moment rested squarely on the parents’ shoulders. Still, they stayed positive, reminding themselves that this was temporary and that the goal was to get both girls home to heal.

Recovery brought its own challenges. Andrea shared that one of the hardest parts was caring for her mental health. She struggled long after transplant, carrying the emotional weight of knowing her new heart once belonged to someone who had died. That heaviness grew into depression, something she did not initially share with friends. She kept much of it inside, trying to balance school, and the reality of her new life. Eventually, she made therapy a priority, giving herself space to process her grief, her appreciation for her donor, and the complicated emotions. This past September, the Lopez family was granted a Make A Wish trip to Seoul, South Korea, a joyful experience that offered healing, connection, and a chance for Andrea to feel like a teenager again. The transplant experience also strengthened the bond between the sisters. During their hospital stays, they were often apart and could only call each other. Andrea says that distance, strangely enough, brought them closer. “With the three of us going through this, it is a built-in support system,” she said.

Adina, who shared more openly with her friends, felt surrounded by support. When she had to stop playing volleyball, her teammates stepped up, sending messages, voice videos, and even a gift basket. Today, Adina is not currently playing any sports, but Andrea is thriving in soccer and club volleyball. Hugs.

Through it all, Theresa Lopez has carried her family through multiple transplants with a mix of fear Hugs and constant learning. She supported Adolfo through his transplant when they were still dating and later watched both daughters face the same journey. Because she does not have congenital heart disease herself, when he or the girls show even the slightest unusual symptom, she reacts immediately. “It is probably scarier for the caregivers,” Adolfo said. “We know our bodies; they have to learn what is normal for us. If I grab my chest, she’s like, ‘Hey, are you okay?’ even when it is only scar tissue or soreness. Nevertheless, Theresa has stepped into the role of “super mom,” managing medications, monitoring symptoms, and staying vigilant without letting fear take over.

The Lopez family are living life fully each day. They honor their donors through participation in Donate Life events and by sharing their appreciation whenever they can. Adolfo’s donor was his uncle, who passed away when his own daughter, also named Andrea, was a newborn. Hugs. Last year, Adolfo met her for the first time. He presented her with a drawing of one of his tattoos created in her father’s honor and a recording of her father’s heartbeat now beating inside him.

Adolfo, Adina, and Andrea also participate as vendors at TCA’s Annual Donor Dash Event through their family business, Abnormal Hearts. It is a fitting name for a family whose hearts, though transplanted, beat with strength all their own.

This Heart Month, their story reminds us that courage is nurtured, resilience can be shared, and love, above all, keeps a family moving forward. Hugs.