A community is mourning the sudden loss of Sienna Stewart, an 18-year-old who tragically collapsed during her graduation ceremony.
Sienna’s journey began with a heart transplant ten years ago, after being diagnosed with severe cardiomyopathy at the age of four. The transplant gave her a decade of relatively normal life, but earlier this year, she started feeling unwell again.
Her mother, Saevon Chum, shared that Sienna had episodes where she would suddenly fall. This happened once more during her graduation on May 23, 2024.
During the ceremony, the school principal had to pause the event, saying, “A student needs help.” When Saevon arrived, paramedics were already attending to Sienna. “The ambulance was there when I arrived,” Saevon recalled. “She had fallen and was unconscious for the first time.”
Sienna regained consciousness a few minutes later and decided to stay at the graduation rather than go to the hospital. She had missed her prom due to a hospital stay and was determined not to miss her graduation. “I just want to graduate, I want to walk,” she told her mom.
Tragically, Sienna passed away on June 12, just weeks after her graduation. Her mother spoke of her pride in Sienna’s bravery, saying, “You have to be proud. I was proud of her until the end.”
According to her obituary, Sienna had dreams of going to college in the fall to become a sonogram technician.
Sienna Stewart will be remembered and deeply missed by her community.
