Rose Hajjar Wins the Berger and Green Heart Disease Scholarship 2026

Rose Hajjar has lived with congenital heart disease since birth. She was born with congenital heart disease and had 3 open-heart surgeries before the age of two. She was also diagnosed with protein-losing enteropathy, which resulted in years of treatments, medications, and frequent hospital visits.

When Rose was 11, she received a life-changing heart transplant, giving her the opportunity for a healthier future. These experiences have given her a great sense of gratitude, resilience, and a desire to help others who are struggling with similar challenges.

Rose’s gratitude, perseverance, and desire to use her experiences to help others stood out to the team at Berger and Green. We are proud to recognize Rose Hajjar as the winner of the 2026 Berger and Green Heart Disease Scholarship, a $1,000 scholarship that we present each year to a student who demonstrates the ambition and resilience that Rose shows in her life.

Look for the Good

Growing up with a heart condition meant living with uncertainty, but Rose learned that even when she could not control her diagnosis, she could control how she responded to it. During difficult periods, she chose to “look for the good” by focusing on things that brought her hope, including attending church, returning to school when she was well enough, and spending time with her family.

Rose also credits her nurses, healthcare team, parents, and sisters for helping her stay positive and reminding her that she was never facing her challenges alone. That outlook continues to guide her today as she studies at the University of Michigan, where seeing C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital from campus reminds her how far she has come.

The Impact of Organ Donation

Rose’s story highlights the life-changing impact of organ donation. At age 11, she received a heart transplant from her donor, whose gift gave her a second chance at a healthier life. Two years later, Rose had the opportunity to meet his family, deepening her gratitude and inspiring her to honor his life by pursuing her education, helping others, and making the most of the gift he gave her.

Rose is still very thankful to her donor and to the donor’s family and wishes that her story might encourage other people to think about becoming an organ donor. As she states, “I am eternally grateful for the gift I was given and my donor family. I hope everyone can consider registering to be an organ donor. Talk to your loved ones and do your research. Organ donation saves lives, and I am living proof.”

Current Goals and Future Ambitions

Rose has completed her first year at the University of Michigan, where her experiences as a congenital heart disease patient and heart transplant recipient continue to shape her future goals. This summer, she plans to volunteer in the university’s ECLS Lab, where she will learn more about extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), organ preservation, and transplantation research.

For Rose, her future in healthcare is both professional and deeply personal. Her years spent in and out of hospitals taught her the importance of compassionate care, teamwork, and medical innovation, inspiring her to help children and families facing serious health challenges. After college, she hopes to attend medical school or physician assistant school, with a special interest in pediatrics. Whether through medicine, research, or patient advocacy, Rose hopes to give back while honoring her donor, by making the most of the life-saving gift she received.

Berger and Green Congratulate Rose

Rose’s perseverance, her sense of gratitude, and her dedication to finding the positive even in the most uncertain times make her an inspirational example for other people who have congenital heart disease.

The fact that she went from a childhood filled with operations and stays in the hospital to attending the University of Michigan and taking part in research related to cardiac care and transplantation shows the resilience and ambition that the Berger and Green Heart Disease Scholarship aims to acknowledge.

For over 40 years, Berger and Green have carried out representation for injured and disabled people while at the same time staying committed to giving something back to the communities we serve. The Heart Disease Scholarship, which is held every year, continues this work by helping students whose lives have been affected by heart disease as they go on to pursue their education and future careers.

We would like to express our pride in congratulating Rose Hajjar on her victory in the 2026 Berger and Green Heart Disease Scholarship and hope that she experiences continued success as she works towards her objectives.