By Brenda Cannon Henley
Many of the readers of my columns over the years know well the timeline and journey of my youngest granddaughter, Maya Grace Stancil. She celebrated her seventh birthday during a long hospitalization in the Cardiac ICU of John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. Maya had her initial heart transplant when she was only eight months old and before she was fostered and adopted by my son, Dr. John Brent Stancil, and his wife, the former Valerie Ware. Both Brent and Valerie were required to attend various classes for medically fragile children before Maya could come home with them.

After passing all of the training classes and learning a huge amount of medical jargon, rules, many medicines, including a feeding tube, and daily care, Maya came to be part of our family. She fit right in from her beautiful dark brown hair, brown eyes, and cheerful, often funny, winsome personality. Everyone loves Maya.

Church, school and her friends absorbed much of her little life. Valerie dressed her like a little doll and taught her how to behave. Her daddy was and is her hero. It wasn’t uncommon to pop in for a quick visit and find this busy pastor playing dress up with his baby girl. I remember one evening I walked in to see my son with a heavy looking Viking hat atop his head, a cape of some description across his broad shoulders, and a mighty battle sword in his hand. Maya burst through the hallway door leading her imaginary army into battle against the big Viking.

Georgia football games are events in their home. Brent and Maya, and older brother, Collin, watch the games from standing positions directly in front of the big television, often telling the coaches which plays to call if they came to win.

Maya had several illnesses along the way, and her immune system was sorely tested. Valerie learned everything the doctors wanted done and nursed Maya back to health. A little better than a year ago, Maya contracted pneumonia and was hospitalized several times. A virus she also had contracted damaged her heart beyond repair and that became a major concern. On September 15th of 2021, Maya was very ill and was hospitalized again at ACH.

Many of my friends followed her story and prayed with our family that Maya would make it through this assault. Maya was placed on the national heart transplant list where she remained for 204 days spending her birthday and major holidays there on the fifth floor. Nurses and doctors became family and relationships were formed with the staff and other parents and family members. For months, no suitable heart was forthcoming.

On Wednesday morning, April 6th,Valerie received the call that we had been praying would come before it was too late for Maya. A heart had been found. Our prayers had always included the donor family, but on this day, many more were added.

I won’t repeat the play by play of the next hours, but the events will never be forgotten. Teams of surgeons and nurses assumed their battle stations and prepared Maya for the surgical team that would fly by private jet to a distant city, pick up the heart, go directly to ACH’s operating room and place that vital organ into her little chest. Emotions were high for all concerned when that heart arrived at ACH.

The words all were waiting to hear were, “We have a heartbeat.” The team heard that very thing Friday morning.

Since the surgery, Maya has done wonderfully well. This little Warrior Princess has surprised all of her doctors, nurses, techs, and family. She sat up in a chair for a good while on Saturday and walked a complete lap around her unit (seven minutes) Sunday. God has certainly answered fervent prayers and blessed this sweet child. If all continues at this pace, she will go home in three weeks.

We are praying diligently for the donor family as we thank God sincerely for our own personal Easter miracle. And, our family thanks each of you who joined us in prayer for Maya Grace.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at 409 781 8788, or
[email protected]
If you are not an organ donor, would you consider becoming one today?

[April-12-2022]