Rochester resident Myrranda Doelman had her first heart surgery at just 6 months old.
In 2014, at the age of 4, she underwent her second open heart procedure, which was detailed in an article by The Chronicle about her heart defect and highlighting fundraising efforts to help cover medical costs.
Twelve years later, Myrranda is once again at the center of a fundraising effort.
This time, though, it’s not for her own medical treatment.
As part of her goal for a post-secondary education that will prepare her for a career assisting young people like herself, those facing cardiovascular challenges at a young age, she is raising money to travel to Florida to compete in the National American Miss pageant.
Myrranda is hoping to capture the full-ride scholarship to Midland University that goes to the winner of the crown.
Back in 2014, the Doelmans told The Chronicle Myrranda was advised by doctors not to play sports and to avoid any strenuous physical activities.
Now 16, Myrranda has grown into a young lady with a variety of interests, ranging from showing animals at the fair to participation in athletics, with fastpitch and basketball among her favorites.
“You would never even know she has this condition,” said her mother, Danielle Doelman.
At some point, Myrranda will still likely require a full heart transplant, but for now, she is living the life of a regular teenager.
“We’ll cross the bridge when it comes,” Danielle said. “For now, she is going to live it up and keep going.”
Part of her life at this point is working toward a career assisting young folks like herself, those facing health challenges, cardiovascular or otherwise.
She wants to use the potential educational opportunity provided by a full-ride scholarship to work toward a career as an ultrasound technician or a position within the field of pediatric cardiology.
Her aspirations don’t end there.
While she’s not yet old enough, she hopes to build the Brave Heart Readers, a foundation that would collect books and read to children facing medical challenges similar to her own.
“She’s trying to start this foundation to go to hospitals and read to the kids, give them a little bit of hope,” Danielle said. “It’s kind of like, ‘I was that kid, and you kind of feel a little hopeless, and I want to give back.’”
Myrranda earned the opportunity to qualify for the National American Miss pageant after being nominated, and winning, at the state level.
Danielle said it is a “full circle” moment that provides her daughter an opportunity to represent the Rochester community, which has supported the Doelmans for years and years.
“On her sash it will say, ‘Rochester,’” Danielle said.
“She is at this point where she just went on fire with it,” Danielle said of her daughter’s goal to build a foundation and career to help others. “She’s like, ‘This is what I want to do. I want to be that person.’”
She added that her daughter has “hopes of giving kids just like her confidence and hope for their futures, giving them an outlet to say what's on their mind or what might be bothering them in their situations with someone that can honestly relate to what they are feeling!”
Learn more about the pageant at https://www.namiss.com.
