In May 2008, 18-year-old Gabby Preap was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a deadly heart condition. She was dying of heart failure and a transplant was her only hope. On April 20, 2011, Gabby's life was saved by a 19-year-old donor, Cassie Campbell. "The energy I had was at least twenty-fold what it had been compared to when I was ill," said Gabby. Several months later, Gabby and her family met Cassie's family, which was documented by the Oprah Winfrey Network. Both women will be honored on the Donate Life float, as Gabby rides beneath Cassie's floragraph.

Gabby's Story

In May 2008, 18-year-old Gabby Preap was diagnosed with congestive heart failure after contracting a viral infection that damaged that her heart. It changed her life forever.

While her future looked foreboding, Gabby decided that she would not give in to the fatal diagnosis. She graduated high school and became a licensed pharmacy technician. Meanwhile, doctors put her on medications hoping to increase her heart functions, but knew that her only real hope was a heart transplant. Gabby was placed on the transplant waiting list while her health rapidly deteriorated. Without a new heart, Gabby was given two years to live. She considered every day to be a gift.

"I could feel my life coming to an end," remembered Gabby. "I felt like I was a ticking time bomb. I had chest pains, was short of breath, lost my appetite and when I would lie down, I would start to choke."

On April 20, 2011, after nearly three years of waiting, Gabby finally received the call that a matching heart donor had been found. Gabby's life was saved.

"I felt like I was reborn," said Gabby. "It was a new start for me - like I was never sick. The energy I had was at least twenty-fold what it had been compared to when I was ill. I was able to take more than five steps without having to rest or take a deep breath.  I could finally breathe without feeling pain."

But, Gabby's journey on her new life path was just beginning.  Before she knew who her donor was, she would thank that person daily saying "I love you, whoever you are." She also made an oath to always protect and care for her new heart.

Several months after her transplant, Gabby received a DVD and letter from her donor family. She learned that her heart belonged to a 19-year-old woman, Cassie Campbell. Gabby immediately wrote back to her donor family and included a scrapbook containing photos of herself with her family.

All of that set in motion the poignant first meeting of the two families that was documented by the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and gained national attention when it was featured on its "Lost and Found" series. Cassie's gift so inspired OWN producer Angela Heller that she signed up to be a donor and urged all of her friends to do the same. Eight months after the filming, Angela died from an aneurysm and became a donor like Cassie.

"Her gift lives on," said Gabby. "I am proud to have her heart beating in me."