Beating Beautiful: What GTF Means to Sierra Hill

With GTF’s 33rd Anniversary Celebration right around the corner, we couldn’t think of a better time to spotlight heart transplant recipient Sierra Hill. An active GTF Ambassador and one of the newest members of our Young Professionals Council (YPC), Sierra brings energy, empathy, and heart (pun absolutely intended) to everything she does. She’s a fierce advocate for the Foundation and a compassionate guide for others in the transplant community—often being the one person who helps someone find their footing when they need it most.

By openly sharing the highs, lows, and hard-earned lessons of her transplant journey, Sierra not only spreads awareness but also builds meaningful connections that open eyes—and hearts—to the realities of transplantation.

Follow along as Sierra shares her powerful story and how GTF’s programs gave her the strength and support to keep fighting forward.

Q: How has organ transplant affected your life?

Organ transplant has changed my life in the most profound way. I received a heart transplant on November 12, 2023, after battling peripartum cardiomyopathy and living with advanced heart failure. That day gave me a second chance at life. Ironically, it was the same date my husband had life-saving surgery two years prior after a motorcycle accident.

This journey hasn’t been easy, but I’m doing well now, staying strong with the support of my family, faith, and medical team. I’m currently undergoing chemotherapy for cervical cancer, which has temporarily paused my place on the heart transplant list. Still, I’m holding on to hope, staying focused on recovery, and continuing to advocate for organ donation and heart health through my brand, Beating Beautiful. Every day is a gift, and I’m committed to using mine to help others.
How has GTF helped you on your transplant journey?

Q: How has GTF helped you on your transplant journey?

The Georgia Transplant Foundation has truly been a lifeline throughout my transplant journey. From the moment I was listed, GTF stepped in with not just resources, but compassion, guidance, and hope. They’ve helped ease the emotional and financial burden that comes with such a life-changing experience.

I’ve personally utilized several of their financial assistance programs, including support with medication co-pays from the Medication Assistance Program and emergency funds through the Emergency Assistance Program, which helped me stay focused on healing without the constant worry of how to make ends meet. The Mentor Project also connected me with others who had walked this path before me, giving me strength, encouragement, and a sense of community.

Most importantly, GTF has supported my family. From checking in to offering guidance, the GTF team reminds us we’re not alone. As I continue navigating post-transplant life and cancer treatments, their support is vital to my healing. I’m forever grateful for GTF and proud to advocate for the work they do.

Q: What did GTF’s support mean for you and your family?

Their support lifted a huge weight off our shoulders. It let us breathe, heal, and hope. Whether helping with medication, offering encouragement, or being a nonjudgmental resource, GTF showed up like family. They filled gaps no one else could and showed us people care.

The impact GTF has had on my life is deeper than financial assistance. It’s emotional support, dignity, and a sense of community. They’ve helped turn my pain into purpose and given me the strength to keep pushing forward, even now as I face a new battle with cancer. Because of GTF, I don’t just survive. I’m finding ways to thrive and give back. I joined the Young Professionals Council program with the Georgia Transplant Foundation.

Q: Why would you recommend that someone financially support GTF?

I would wholeheartedly recommend supporting GTF through financial giving because your donation goes far beyond charity. It becomes a lifeline for someone fighting for their life.

For people like me, a transplant journey doesn’t end after surgery. It’s filled with ongoing medical bills, expensive medications, travel to countless appointments, and unexpected challenges, like my recent cancer diagnosis. GTF steps in when insurance falls short, when families are stretched thin, and when hope feels distant.

Your financial gift directly impacts real families, helping them afford the medications that keep their new organs functioning, ensuring they have a place to stay during treatment, and providing them with emotional support during the most challenging moments of their lives. I am living proof of how much that support matters.

When you give to GTF, you’re not just donating. You’re giving someone more time with their children, more holidays with their families, and more moments to dream again. You’re giving them life. And there is no greater gift than that.

Q: What Does GTF Mean To You?

To me, GTF means hope, compassion, and community. It’s more than just an organization. It’s a lifeline during one of the most vulnerable times in a person’s life.

GTF was there when my world was turned upside down. They provided support when I didn’t know where to turn, and they reminded me that I wasn’t alone in this journey. To my family and me, GTF represents the people who step in when others step back. The ones who show up with resources, encouragement, and love when you’re trying to survive.

They’ve helped me not only heal but find purpose. Because of GTF, I’ve been able to focus on getting stronger, being present for my children, and sharing my story to inspire others. GTF is family, and to me, family means everything.