Woman Undergoes Heart Surgery—One Year Later Makes Discovery About Donor

0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Molly Sanborn was left feeling emotional after receiving an unexpected message, a year on from the heart surgery that saved her life.

On May 27, 2025, Sanborn, from New Hope, Minnesota , underwent a complex open-heart surgery.

"I was born with a congenital bicuspid aortic valve, meaning my aortic valve had only two leaflets instead of the normal three," Sanborn told Newsweek . "During my pregnancy, doctors also discovered an ascending aortic aneurysm, so I was monitored closely for more than a decade. Eventually, the valve narrowed and the aneurysm grew to the point that surgery could no longer wait."

An ascending aortic aneurysm is a potentially dangerous enlargement of the ascending aorta, the section of the body's main artery that carries blood from the heart. The condition often develops without symptoms and is frequently discovered during scans for unrelated health issues, but it can become life-threatening if the artery tears or ruptures.

While exact figures for ascending aortic aneurysms are difficult to determine, thoracic aortic aneurysms, which include those affecting the ascending aorta, are estimated to affect around 0.5 percent of the general population, with the ascending aorta being the most commonly affected area.

Sanborn underwent a Ross procedure, a type of open-heart surgery used to replace a diseased aortic valve. Instead of using a mechanical or animal-tissue replacement valve, the surgeon removes the patient's own pulmonary valve and moves it into the aortic position. The pulmonary valve is then replaced with a donor valve.

"The surgery lasted several hours, and my heart was stopped for about three hours while the procedure was performed," Sanborn said. "I chose this more complex surgery over receiving a mechanical valve because I didn't want to spend the rest of my life on blood thinners."

An author, speaker, and competitive ninja athlete, someone who trains and competes in obstacle-course events inspired by the TV show American Ninja Warrior , Sanborn is known to many online as the "Cheeseball Chick."

"I wear a backpack full of cheese balls to make people smile and bring hope wherever I go," she said. "I've been doing it since 2008 and have worn my cheese balls around the world. I also wore them throughout my entire open-heart surgery journey."

Sanborn knew the surgery was necessary if she was to continue competing in ninja events.

"Not having the surgery would have significantly limited the active lifestyle and even the occasional higher-risk adventure that I love," she said. "The Ross procedure offered me the best chance to return to the life I enjoy, even though it came with a more challenging surgery and recovery."

The recovery process was hard. Three months after the initial surgery, doctors discovered the top of Sanborn's sternum had not fused. She would require a second surgery, during which five titanium plates and 40 screws were added. Even then, Sanborn was not out of the woods: one of the plates came loose, meaning she required a third operation.

During this period of recovery, Sanborn received something she never expected.

"I received a letter from the donor network letting me know that I had received the pulmonary valve of a 27-year-old young man," Sanborn said. "It was an incredibly emotional moment."

"I thanked them for their incredible gift, shared a little about my family and my life, and told them about my pursuit of ninja, letting them know that because of their loved one's generosity, I was working toward getting back to the active life I love," Sanborn said. "My hope was simply that they would know their loved one's life continues to make a difference every single day."

At the beginning of this year, Sanborn was finally given the all-clear to return to action.

"I returned to ninja training in March and could hardly believe that just a few months later I placed fifth overall at the World Finals," Sanborn said.

It was an amazing achievement, and one she credits to the man whose donation in death allowed her to live on. Sanborn shared her story on TikTok , @cheeseballchick, in the hope it would highlight the incredible impact donors can have.

"It's easy to think of donation as just a medical procedure or a box you check on your driver's license. But behind every donation is a family experiencing unimaginable loss and another family receiving an incredible gift," she said. "I hope people come away with a deeper appreciation for the impact one life can have. Because one young man and his family chose generosity in the midst of tragedy, I'm alive today."

Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Rebecca Flood and Anthony Murray .

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