Marshall County Tribune: Local News: Katie gets a heart (07/14/08)

Tribune photo by Clint Confehr Kathy McCullough hugs her daughter, Katie Davenport, who shows only part of her scar from heart transplant surgery.

A 10-year-old Lewisburg girl got more than a heart transplant at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital this spring. She got inspiration for a career.

"I want to be like the girl, Cathleen" at the hospital, says Katie Davenport of Hull Avenue who had surgery nearly seven weeks ago and fondly remembers one of the caregivers who helped her recover.

Katie came home from the hospital in Nashville on Wednesday.

Cathleen Cherry, a child life specialist in the Child Life Department specializing in pediatric cardiology, provides psychosocial services for the children while working with the cardiology team.

Katie grins and sways when contemplating her answer on why she wants to be like Cathleen. It's because she gets to "play with the children."

"That is," Cathleen says, "a small part of what I do. Through general play we , Pick up a copy of Friday, July 11 edition for entire story.