Hunter Ratcliffe

2013 Scholarship Winner

Lake Region High School

Football & Soccer & Tennis

Webber International University

Hunter Ratcliffe (AAO ’13) of Lake Region High School was the first pediatric heart transplant patient on the west coast of Florida at All Children’s Hospital in 1995, one month after his birth. This momentous event was only the beginning of the hardships and miracles in his life. At a young age, he also experienced 20% hearing loss and speech problems that were partially corrected at All Children’s Hospital. When he was ten (10) years old, while playing soccer, Hunter began experiencing acute heart rejection for the first time. This adversity was finally corrected with medicine and homebound sterile isolation for six (6) months. During his four (4) high school years, he was named as a Florida State Finalist in “Illustrative Talk” competition, kicked for the varsity football team and was named All-County 2nd team, played goalie for the varsity soccer team and captained the tennis team. Also, throughout this time, he experienced more rejection issues and the progressive stage of coronary heart disease. These problems have been cared for and Hunter will attend Webber International University in Lake Wales, FL this fall.