KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Editor's Note: If you'd like to donate to Make-A-Wish of East Tennessee, click here.
We are less than six months away from the opening of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, and we are excited to start the countdown with a special series to benefit Make-A-Wish of East Tennessee.
Make-A-Wish creates changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Like the athletes in the Olympics -- these children face adversity with bravery, determination and lots of support.
For the next six months leading up to the Summer Olympics, we are teaming up with children from Make-A-Wish East Tennessee to show you that they, too, have the hearts of a champion.
We begin with Zoe Arrington, a 14-year-old from Sevier County. Zoe is teaming up with WBIR anchor Brittany Bailey and will cheer Brittany on as she trains at D1 Knoxville in track and field.
Like most teenagers, Zoe loves spending time with her family and joking around with her mother, Danni Arrington. In a very real way, unlike other teenagers, she's had three heart surgeries.
"When she was born we found out that she had mitral valve regurgitation. She had a discreet fibrous subaortic membrane, and then they did the surgery and between the first two surgeries her valve shredded, and eventually that led to valve replacement," Danni said.
Danni said her daughter is full of life and keeps going no matter what, even if the doctors tell her she needs to slow down.
"Well, we have to be careful because she does take baby aspirin, so you have to be careful about bumps and falls and bruises. She's kind of a go-getter. Her doctor had to tell her she couldn't be on her skateboard or her bicycle for a while. She just recently was able to get back on to some of those things," Danni said.
Zoe likes to look at things a little differently from her mom.
"Anything that's dangerous but I can't get hurt doing it. We like to go to Dollywood. I love riding the big roller coasters and stuff. Sometimes some of the roller coasters make me dizzy, but I enjoy doing them," she said.
Danni said it isn't easy to navigate Zoe's illness, but they know they have an angel watching over them all the way.
"It was August of 2021, my mom, who was a nurse, passed away from the COVID pneumonia. On the day of her funeral, it was when we found out Zoe would have to have her third open-heart surgery," Danni said. "The day she went on the ventilator, my mother told me and my dad to go to the house, that she had a gift she wanted to give Zoe. We get to the house and this necklace that Zoe is wearing, it says, 'You are my sunshine.' They actually took that necklace and hung it up on the IV pole during her surgery, so it kind of felt like my mom was with us."
Zoe's love of roller coasters is why she picked a trip to Disney World as her wish for 2024.
"I do get really anxious and stuff, and sometimes that's a little hard. I usually just try to bury my feelings and just keep going with the flow. Sometimes it's just a little much, but I like the fact that the roller coasters just kind of let me go," Zoe said.
For Zoe, Dannie and the rest of their family -- a trip to Disney World will give them a little time to let go of any anxiety and enjoy their time together. And no matter what happens in the future, the Arringtons will face it all together.
"I'm very proud. Proud that God gifted her to me, proud that she's still here and can't wait to see what the future holds," Danni said.
If you'd like to help future wishes like Zoe's, you can donate to Make-A-Wish East Tennessee at this link.