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Sex: Female
History
- Very active in lots of activities such as softball & karate
- one of four siblings
- a good student
Turning Point
It was November 9, 1995 when Mandi and her sister Erica decided to spend the night with friends watching movies. Early the next morning the party turned into a nightmare. Mandi went into cardiac arrest. Her friend heard her gurgling and gasping for air as she lay beside her. She cried for her mom, who came running into the room. Her mom found her with no pulse. A former nurse aid, she began C.P.R while her other daughter dialed 911 and they got the neighbor who happened to be a helicopter medic for Tampa General Hospital. He rushed over and took over c.p.r until the paramedics arrived. At this point Mandi was not breathing nor was her heart beating.
Rescue workers had to shock her four times to restart her heart, but even then it was only a faint beat. By this time her dad had arrived. She was transported to the intensive care unit at Tampa General Hospital. She fell into a coma; her heart was beating irregularly and was deteriorating. The doctors concluded that she needed a heart transplant. She lived at the hospital until a heart became available.
A month later on Dec 10, 1995, the Tate family finally got good news. Mandi was summoned to Atlanta, by air ambulance because she had a donor. They arrived with high hopes, only to have them shattered. The heart did not arrive as the planned. The aircraft that was scheduled to bring the heart had mechanical difficulties and the delay ruined the heart. She was transported back to Tampa to begin the wait again. Some people wait years for a new heart, but she only had to wait another week before a return trip to Atlanta and a new heart. On December 15, 1995 Mandi received a new heart and a new life.
Today
It has been 12 years since her transplant. Mandi adjusted over time, and has resumed a normal life, except for the multitude of medicines she takes daily and the quarterly trips to the hospital to see her cardiologist. She enjoys watching football-Go Gators -, sewing ,horseback riding, hanging out with friends, and taking care of her many and varied animals. Mandi is in her second year of college. |
