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Local girl decorates Christmas tree in honor of heart transplant donor

A second Christmas tree at the Hall's home stands for something special.
PHOTO: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Talk about a story that warms the heart this holiday season.

On December 7, 2014, 5-year-old Mallory Kate Hall received the gift of a lifetime: a new heart.

The Cumming, Georgia native underwent transplant surgery at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Eggleston where she received her new heart from an anonymous donor.

Since that day, the Hall family began a new Christmas tradition.

In the family’s living room stands a second Christmas tree in honor of Mallory Kate’s donor and their life. For the past three years, Mallory Kate has added a new ornament to the tree on the anniversary of her transplant.

In 2014, Mallory Kate received a glass pink heart ornament. While she was waiting for her transplant, she said she always wanted a ‘pink heart.’ Following that year, a tradition was born.

The next year Mallory Kate received a painted ornament with a heart and her transplant date. In 2016, she got an angel holding a heart.

Just last Thursday, Mallory Kate added her fourth ornament to the tree: a gold heart that says, ‘You are loved and treasured.’

A statement that bears true for both Mallory Kate and her donor.

ALSO | NICU Grandpa: 'It's been wonderful because it gives me something to do that has meaning to it.'

RELATED | Brantley Dobbs' family shares ornaments with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

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