10-Year-Old Girl Awaiting Heart Transplant Has Father-Daughter Dance in Hospital Room: See the 'Stunning' Moment

Mar. 15, 2025

Ava Cooper and Sean Cooper.Photo:Annie O’Neill, Cleveland Clinic

Annie O’Neill, Cleveland Clinic

An Ohio girl had her dream come true, participating in a father-daughter dance despite being hospitalized while waiting for a heart transplant.

In May 2024, Ava suffered from a severe sinus infection that led to her going into heart failure. She has since been at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital waiting for a donor heart.

“It can be scary sometimes, and you just have to be brave and just stay positive to help make it better,” Ava toldWKYCafter being in the hospital for 200 days.

Ava Cooper and Sean Cooper.Annie O’Neill, Cleveland Clinic

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Dr. Shahnawaz Amdani, head of pediatric heart function and transplant, described Ava as “resilient, strong, vibrant, active, and full of life.”

Due to her hospitalization, Ava missed out on a lot of her favorite activities, including attending her school’s father-daughter dance this year. After learning about the event, medical staff decided to recreate the experience for the fourth grader right in the hospital.

Caregivers transformed the hospital room into a dance floor with floor-to-ceiling heart shaped streamers, party lights and balloons.

Ava’s mother, Jamie Cooper, got her a flowy pink dress and did her hair and makeup. Her father, Sean Cooper, waited outside her hospital room with a matching pink corsage in hand for his little girl.

As Ava walked down the hall with her dad, caregivers greeted her with a round of applause.

“There is a girl who’s special to us here who does Ava’s music therapy, and she sang a Taylor Swift song, live, a capella, with her guitar, and it was stunning, and that made me cry just watching the two of them dancing,” Jamie toldABC Newsof her daughter and husband.

Ava Cooper with her parents Sean and Jamie.Annie O’Neill, Cleveland Clinic

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Ava told the hospital that her favorite moment was the slow dance with her dad.

“My dad is like having the best friend a girl could ask for,” she said.

“I’m honored and so thankful to be her dad,” Sean added, calling Ava his “A1 from day one.”

Sean later told ABC that he hopes the video of the sweet moment inspires people.

“I hope that people can always find light in the darkness,” he said.

source: people.com