Teacher Fights For Student's Heart Transplant

An Arnold Mill Elementary School teacher is raising awareness of a second grader's need for a heart transplant. 

Deb Havens, who teaches second grade at the Woodstock school, has created an online petition to inform the public about second-grader Phillip "Bronco" Reese's plight. 

Bronco, the son of Scott and Joanna Reese, was born with congenital heart defects and has been hospitalized since Oct. 21. He was placed on the transplant list last fall when the condition of his pulmonary artery began to regress.

Havens said in a release from the Cherokee County School District the student's “courage, hope and optimism" drove her to create the petition, which raises awareness about child organ donation. 

“Bronco, who ironically has the most caring heart, will race over to pat a friend on the back in congratulations or race over faster to give a hug of encouragement… to say that Bronco has been a blessing is an understatement,” she said. “Now, his empty desk serves as a reminder of the ultimate battle he is fighting.  The absence of his wheelchair in the back of the room robs the students of one way they could help their friend in his struggle.” 

She also said students have created cards and video messages to send to him in the hospital. 

“They don’t understand and ask every day if Bronco will be back tomorrow, and every day they hear that it will be a long time until they see him again," she added. 

Along with the petition, a fundraising page has also been created.

Havens said Bronco's plight is the reason why families should "consider giving life to others through organ donation."

"It is important that this topic be brought up often, and it is vital to Bronco that this topic be brought up now," she said. 

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