When I planned a camper van trip with my mom to reconnect, I hoped to relive childhood memories. We drove to a lake we loved, but Mom seemed nervous, hinting at my inherited heart condition. The trip turned tragic when I slipped on a steep slope, hit my head, and woke up in the hospital. There, I overheard Mom tell a doctor she wasn’t my biological mother—a shocking truth that shattered me.

Angry and hurt, I confronted her. She and Dad explained my biological mother abandoned me as a baby, and Mom, their kind neighbor, raised me as her own. I felt betrayed by their silence, struggling to process it. During the argument, my heart failed, and I collapsed.

When I awoke, Dad revealed Mom had donated her heart to save me. She left a letter, explaining she wanted to tell me the truth but saw me as her true daughter. Overwhelmed, I realized her sacrifice proved her love. Though I couldn’t say goodbye, I knew she understood my love for her. Now, with her heart beating in me, I vowed to live fully, honoring her sacrifice and cherishing every moment.