Jessica Cowin

Jessica Cowin was born June 7, 1983 in Dallas, TX. At four days of age, she was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (or HLHS), double outlet right ventricle (DORV) and mitral atresia and underwent her first surgery at that time. She is one of the oldest living survivors with HLHS. She was raised in Chicago, and has a younger sister, Amy.  Jessica had three surgeries by the time she was 18 months and at age 13, she needed a revised Fontan and a pacemaker implanted. Even though she had a pacemaker, she missed a lot of school and just didn’t seem able to keep up with her peers.  By 16 Jessica was in congestive heart failure and was told she needed a heart transplant.  After waiting three weeks, she got the call from the hospital and received the gift of life.  After that she was even able to graduate from college.  Jessica just recently wrote a memoir to inspire and help others. Her book is going to be available June 7, 2016 – which just happens to be her 33rd birthday.