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Danielle Caterina first came to SickKids still in her mother’s womb. The doctors needed to test her for Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Her older sister Sarah suffered from the genetic disease so there was a strong chance Danielle would also have CF. The test on baby Danielle came back positive.

In 1989, researchers at SickKids discovered the gene responsible for CF, making it possible for babies in utero, like Danielle, to be diagnosed before birth. CF is a life-threatening disease that causes mucus to build up and clog some of the organs in the body, particularly in the lungs and pancreas. When mucus clogs the lungs, it can make breathing very difficult. Some patients with CF, like Danielle, also develop diabetes.

For the first few years, Danielle didn’t seem to be too affected by her condition. Slowly, however, signs began to appear that CF was starting to become a bigger issue in her life. She was always out of breath and would have coughing fits where her face would turn red and her lips would turn blue.

Danielle’s passion was baseball. She was happiest on the field with a ball and a bat in tow. A few years ago, playing the sport became increasingly difficult. The way she played the game started to change. At first, she would take rests in between plays but then that proved too taxing on her lungs. It escalated to the point where she would hit the ball, jog to first base and have a replacement runner run the rest of the bases as she received oxygen. Danielle was upset by the decline in her ability to play baseball and knew that it was due to CF.

In 2003, one of her lungs collapsed. Doctors at SickKids told her the best option for normal breathing again would be a double lung transplant. In 2007, Danielle underwent a nine-hour surgery for the double lung transplant and took just two weeks to make a full recovery. Though the transplant temporarily cured her lungs from CF, she still suffered from CF-related issues like diabetes. Her new lungs helped her live her life to the fullest and allowed her to return to what she loved most – playing baseball. Danielle’s biggest wish after her transplant was to be able to run to home base all on her own. In the summer of 2007 Danielle’s dream came true.

In January 2008, Danielle became ill with a lung infection. This infection may have triggered an acute rejection of her transplanted lungs. She was placed on the waiting list for a second set of lungs. Danielle became increasingly ill and gave permission for doctors to use a ventilator to keep her alive until the lungs could be found.

Sadly, on June 16, 2008 Danielle passed away.

Donations Make the Difference: Giving to SickKids is truly a heroic gesture. Your donations help children like Danielle every day. You fund research breakthroughs that mean less pain for children, a higher survival rate, and less time in the hospital. Please give generously now.