A giving heart propels El Tour rider through life

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Tyler Wing - View Bio

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Thousands of El Tour de Tucson 2009 cyclists peddled their way to the finish line Saturday.

An accomplishment of this magnitude seemed impossible two years ago when 30-year-old Vanessa Cirillo needed a heart transplant, "I've already lived those days to where I don't know if tomorrow's going to come."

Cirillo was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2000.

Her heart took a turn for the worse in August of 2007.

She waited 106 days for a donor, hooked up to an artificial heart the whole time, "I never knew this day was possible. And so I'm very excited. Very nervous."

November 24th marks the two year anniversary when Cirillo received her new heart, "So I thought what a great way to commemorate that whole experience and to kind of honor my donor as well."

Cirillo hopes her story can inspire everyone to become organ donors, "I just believe everyone should help each other as best they can especially when it comes time when they don't need their own organs."

Cirillo more than accomplished her goal of completing the 35 mile race before sundown, crossing the finish line in less than three hours.