Dionne Brown

In December 2002, a common cold led Dionne—who had never even been in the hospital—straight down the path to a heart transplant within a matter of days. Says Dionne, "My life has changed abruptly, but I am adjusting. I'm thankful to be alive, and thankful for the gift of a donor's heart." Dionne will celebrate the one-year anniversary of her heart transplant on January 20, 2004. An active teenager, Dionne's favorite activity is dancing and she hopes to be a choreographer.