Family's Christmas tradition honors organ donor who allowed their little girl to live

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — For many people, certain ornaments have a special significance or meaning as halls are decked and trees are decorated this time of year.

And for one Forsyth County family, that certainly rings true.

On Dec. 7, 2014, Mallory Kate Hall, who’s now 5 years old and in kindergarten, received the gift of life when she underwent heart transplant surgery at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston.

In honor of her anonymous organ donor, Mallory Kate’s family decorates a second tree in its living room that represents her donor and their life.

Mother Jessica Hall said that since the transplant, they now consider themselves a family of five.

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For the past three years, Mallory Kate has hung an ornament on this “special tree” on the anniversary of her transplant.

Mallory Kate first received a glass pink heart ornament for Christmas in 2014. While she was waiting for her transplant, she always said she wanted “a pink heart.”

The special tree tradition officially began the following year.

Her ornament from 2015 bears the painting of a heart with the date of her transplant. In 2016, she received an angel holding a heart. Last Thursday, Mallory Kate added another heart ornament: a gold heart that says, “You are loved and treasured.”

Cox Media Group