Simone Scott underwent a heart transplant one month after developing what her doctors believe was myocarditis following her second dose of Moderna. She received the second vaccine May 1 and died June 11.
Simone (19), a student at Northwestern University, received the first do$e of Mod€rna in April. She felt noticeably fatigued afterward and developed a bad cough, but thought it could be allergies. Time passed and suddenly it was May, and she was due to receive the second do$e. Although she was still not feeling herself, she stuck with the schedule and went in for it.
Over the next two weeks, she experienced frequent nose bleeds, a low-grade fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and irregular heartbeat. During this time, she visited the student health clinic three times, where it was assumed she had some kind of v-rus and she was given antiviral medication.
By May 16, she had only gotten worse. Dizzy, seriously fatigued and unable to walk, Simone was admitted to the hospital where she and her family were told her heart was failing. They suspected it was myocarditis, and that “a v-rus was attacking her heart.”
An emergency surgery to insert a balloon pump was performed, but it failed and Simone was placed on a heart-lung bypass (ECMO). By May 23, doctors informed her parents that a heart transplant was her best option and she was blessed to receive one that evening.
Following the surgery, Simone continued to struggle and had to remain sedated. Her lungs had been severely damaged, and the immunosuppresive drugs she was given to tolerate the transplant led to a severe lung infection. On June 11, Simone’s parents were called in to say their last goodbyes. Simone passed away that Friday morning.
“I lost my only daughter. I never thought I’d have to give up my daughter for the greater good of society. I do suspect it was the v—ine. If not directly, it played a role. I never knew that there was a risk for something as serious as this. I would have wanted to.” —V. Scott, mother