A community is in deep sorrow following the unexpected passing of an 18-year-old high school student who collapsed during her graduation ceremony.
According to heartbreaking reports, Sienna Stewart was diagnosed with heart failure in April after undergoing a transplant a decade ago. Since the age of four, Sienna had been living with severe cardiomyopathy and began experiencing health issues earlier this year.
The transplant had reportedly enabled her to lead a “relatively normal life for 10 years,” but she subsequently began to feel increasingly weak and fatigued.
Her mother, Saevon Chum, disclosed that her daughter had experienced episodes of collapse, with one occurring during her graduation on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
In a video shared by Hiram High School, the principal can be heard urgently requesting, “Just give us a second please, we have a student, just give us a second…”
When Saevon arrived at the scene, paramedics were already providing assistance to her daughter. “When I got there, the ambulance was already there,” the mother recounted. “She had collapsed. She had had another episode. But this was the first time she collapsed unconscious.”
Sienna regained consciousness a few minutes later and ultimately chose to attend her graduation ceremony rather than go to the hospital.
“All she expressed to me was, ‘I just want to graduate, I want to walk.’ That was her sole desire, especially since she had already missed her prom due to being hospitalized,” Saevon remarked.
Tragically, Sienna passed away on Wednesday, June 12, just a few weeks after receiving her diploma.
“As a mother, one feels immense pride because she persevered through such pain. You cannot help but feel proud. Until the very end, I was proud,” Saevon stated.
According to Sienna’s obituary, the young woman had plans to attend college and was set to study sonogram technology in the fall.
Rest in peace, Sienna Stewart.