A tragic event struck a community recently when 18-year-old Sienna Stewart passed away unexpectedly at her high school graduation ceremony.
Sienna had a heart transplant at the age of 8 due to cardiomyopathy, a condition weakening her heart since she was 4. The transplant allowed her to live a relatively normal life for ten years, but earlier this year, her health began to decline.
Sienna’s mother, Saevon Chum, shared that Sienna had been experiencing episodes of collapsing. Sadly, one of these episodes occurred during her graduation on May 23, 2024. Paramedics were already on the scene trying to help when Saevon arrived. The principal of Hiram High School paused the ceremony to assist Sienna, causing great distress among those present.
Despite the paramedics’ efforts, Sienna did not regain consciousness, which had never happened before. The community is deeply saddened by her passing, remembering her as a courageous young woman who faced her health challenges bravely.
In a poignant moment, Sienna had woken up briefly after an earlier collapse and insisted on attending her graduation instead of going to the hospital. “All she told me was, ‘I just want to graduate, I want to walk.’ That’s all she wanted because she missed her prom earlier when she was in the hospital,” Saevon said.
Tragically, Sienna passed away on June 12, just weeks after receiving her diploma. Her mother expressed immense pride in Sienna’s resilience, stating, “As a mom, you feel so proud because she fought through something that hurt her. You have to be proud. I was proud until the end.”
According to Sienna’s obituary, she had plans to study sonogram technology in college starting in the fall.
Rest in peace, Sienna Stewart.
