The community is deeply mourning the unexpected death of 18-year-old Sienna Stewart, who tragically passed away shortly after attending her high school graduation.

Sienna, who had battled severe cardiomyopathy since she was four, experienced heart failure in April of this year. She had received a heart transplant a decade ago, which allowed her to lead a relatively normal life for many years. However, earlier this year, her condition began to worsen, with increasing fatigue and slower movements.

Her mother, Saevon Chum, shared that Sienna had occasional episodes where she would suddenly collapse. On Thursday, May 23, 2024, during her graduation ceremony, she had one of these episodes. In a video shared by Hiram High School, the principal could be heard urgently calling for a pause: “Can you wait a second? We’re helping a student right now, just give us a second…”

By the time Saevon arrived at the scene, paramedics were already attending to Sienna. “When I got there, the ambulance was already present,” her mother recalled. “She had collapsed, but this time she fainted and lost consciousness.”

Despite the alarming situation, Sienna regained consciousness a few minutes later. With determination, she insisted on continuing to her graduation ceremony instead of going to the hospital. Saevon recounted, “All she said was, ‘I just want to graduate, I want to walk.’ It was her sole focus, as she had missed her prom due to hospitalization and was determined not to miss this milestone.”

Sadly, just a few weeks after her graduation, Sienna passed away on Wednesday, June 12. Reflecting on her daughter’s strength, Saevon said, “I’m proud as a mom because she persevered through such pain. I have to be proud. I was proud until the very end.”

Sienna had plans to attend college in the fall, with hopes of studying sonogram technology. Her passing has left a significant void in the community, as loved ones remember her resilience and spirit.

Rest in peace, Sienna Stewart.