Noah Thyberg, 11, is teaching Clarksville a thing or two about heart.

Ten weeks ago, the tow-headed sixth-grader had a heart transplant at Johns Hopkins Hospital, an operation that transformed the kinetic, athletic, fun-loving extrovert into a virtual prisoner in his Distant Thunder Trail home. He was barred from going to school, most social interactions, playing sports -- even from attending sporting events.

But if his dramatically altered life has worn Noah down, you wouldn't know it from the smile on his face or the optimism in his voice.

"I'll be out on the athletic field again, and I can't wait," he says with conviction. As for down the road: "When I'm 13, I'm going to run a marathon, with my friend and his mom."

Noah's ability to shrug off adversity has done more than highlight his own remarkable spirit. It has brought out the heart in his family, his friends, his neighbors -- in the entire Clarksville community and beyond. Hundreds of people, from friends to fellow church members to strangers, have banded together to support Noah in a way that those familiar with his story describe as inspiring, even transforming.

"You can tell when there's a person and a family that cares for people and loves people -- people rally around them," said the Rev. Shaun Smithson, youth pastor at Grace Community Church, in Fulton, which the Thybergs attend. "And it's been incredible the way the community is gathering around Noah and his family."

Said neighbor Cori Gochar, whose son Ryan is a good friend of Noah's: "I think we've all learned from Noah. It's brought the community together. ... And the way he's faced this, it's taught even the adults about strength and courage and faith -- even wisdom."

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I been feelin pretty good, and had a great bday, and had an awesome chinese dinner! I have gotten remarkable gifts and unforgettable moments that i will always remember. i am still getting better about the meds, except the pregnazone i have to take makes me feel a little nauseous and make my face look puffy, but i know that that will go away soon and if anything, i know that the meds are helpin me. But I realized, that the best medicine i could get right now is just to relax and be patient, to get everything back to normal and feelin 110%.

Noah's online journal, Sept. 24

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Noah Thyberg went into Johns Hopkins Hospital on the morning of Sept. 3 expecting to get a pacemaker. He came out 10 days later with a new heart.

Noah's struggle began in early July. Like his three older siblings, Noah had always been athletic -- swimming, playing football, lacrosse, baseball and more.

But during a lacrosse tournament in July, he experienced an inexplicable tiredness. "I couldn't even run across the room," he recalled.

His team won the tournament, but Noah couldn't shake off his exhaustion, so his mother, Regina, took him to a pediatrician. The doctor thought Noah might have strep throat and put him on an antibiotic.

A couple of weeks later, still suffering from what his mother called a "low-grade tiredness," Noah got a chest X-ray and some blood work.

"I was thinking, 'I hope he doesn't have mono,' " said Regina. "He's so active, and already the summer was ticking away, and football practice was coming up."

Eventually, his parents took Noah to a physician he'd been seeing for years for a heart murmur, something that had never affected his activities.

In late July, the diagnosis was made: Noah had myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, in his case most likely caused by a viral infection.

What the Thybergs did not know at the time was that myocarditis can be incurable, leading rapidly to chronic heart failure -- and the need for radical treatment. "About one-third of patients (with myocarditis) need a heart transplant to survive," said Dr. Janet Scheel, Noah's pediatric cardiologist.

Noah spent a couple of nights in Children's Medical Center, in Washington, then was sent home on heart medication.

When his condition did not improve, his parents took him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for a second opinion. He was admitted immediately.

"I went right to the PICU" (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit), recalled Noah. "They said I really couldn't leave."

Noah was given regular tests, which showed his heart function was getting worse. He developed potentially dangerous blood clots and was put on blood thinners.

On Aug. 21, with no improvement in sight, Noah was put on the waiting list for a new heart. In the meantime, his doctors recommended a pacemaker.

When Noah arrived at Hopkins early in the morning Sept. 3, it was to have a pacemaker installed.

His mother was nervous: Noah had never been under general anesthesia before. But neither she nor anyone in the family was ready for what happened next.

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Thanks for all your prayers and concerns i will never get annoyed of them because you have cared to much about me that I could not let any of you down. You are all the best and keepin me smilin.

Noah's online journal, Sept. 24

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As they were preparing Noah for the pacemaker surgery, a doctor approached his parents.

"He told us, 'It looks like we have a donor for you,' " recalled Regina.

"We just said, 'Hey, change of plans,' " said Noah's father, Carl.

Noah's surgeon got on a private jet and flew to where the heart donor was waiting. (The names and locations of organ donors are confidential, although the recipient can find out if the donor's family agrees. Noah says he wants to find his donor, explaining: "I just want to know the person who helped me in my life like that.")

The surgeon removed the heart and flew back to Baltimore, with the new heart stored in a cooler. In the meantime, the Hopkins medical team began prepping Noah for surgery.

The transplant surgery began shortly after 11 p.m.; some four hours later, a nurse called Noah's waiting family -- his parents, his two brothers and one sister, assorted aunts and uncles, and his youth minister -- to let them know the operation was over and had gone as planned.

Shortly after that, Regina watched them wheel her youngest child into a recovery room.

"He looked like an angel," she recalled. "So restful."

Noah was released from Hopkins 10 days later and sent home. But he was hardly as good as new. His doctors, worried about infections, ordered restrictions that must have sounded like torture to a boy once so active and social.

He was pretty much confined to his home, which had been outfitted with hand sanitizers, and what few visitors he was allowed had to wear masks. He downed eight or nine medications a day, some of them twice a day.

On his 11th birthday, one week after he returned home, Noah's friends, barred from entering the house, had to leave his presents by the front door.

Still, you can't suppress natural exuberance. On his first day back from the hospital after his transplant, a few of Noah's friends stood in his yard and waved to Noah, who was upstairs by his bedroom window. Noah waved back and then, as he stood at the window, pulled up his T-shirt and showed them his scar.

In an interview in his kitchen weeks later, Noah recalled the incident and smiled -- then pulled up his T-shirt and showed off his scar again.

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My first week of school at home was a lot better than i thought and im already gettin caught up. And 2 of my teachers from ces cooked dinner for us -- wow! Its like i now have a total stacked team on my side with all of your prayers and support and there is nothing stoppin us since we have our AWESOME GOD steppin in front as the head coach. So you and i both no that we can do it.

Noah's online journal, Sept. 27

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Noah's heart troubles have not come without some benefits. He got to meet Dr. Ben Carson, the celebrated Hopkins neurosurgeon, and -- even better as far as Noah is concerned -- Brian Roberts, the Baltimore Orioles' second baseman. Noah met Roberts through a family friend at church, and Roberts has taken a special interest in Noah.

"He calls me after games," Noah said.

"Some games," clarified his father gently. "Not all games."

Noah also has developed a network of less-celebrated friends and supporters that seems to extend across much of Howard County. They cook and deliver dinners for him and his family, do the grocery shopping, mow the lawn, walk the family dog, hold prayer services.

Former and future teachers have delivered meals. Fellow students have dropped off get-well cards. Teammates have given him signed game balls.

Much of the help was organized by neighbor Cori Gochar. Knowing the Thybergs would be inundated with offers to help in the wake of Noah's illness, she set up an online network to coordinate that help. That network has grown to more than 500 members.

"We could never make a list of all the people who've helped," said Regina. "It's way beyond what we could've ever hoped for."

Added her husband: "It's been unbelievable."

On Oct. 3, supporters held a fundraiser, "A Night for Noah," complete with a silent auction, door prizes and a video of Noah, to help pay Noah's medical bills.

Carl Thyberg is self-employed, running his own office supplies and furniture business, and while he has health insurance for his family, it will not come close to covering all of their bills; Noah's prescription drug bill alone could end up costing $100 a day.

The fundraiser, held at a private home in Highland, raised some $52,000.

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Haha, i've had another awesome week and i found out that i can finally start running and i can throw a football now! Also, i will have my second catherization, and if all goes well, or when all goes well, i think that i will maybe start being able to go to some high school, college, and little league football games and possibly be able to go around on halloween and collect some candy.... And even though i have to go through another biopsy, im sort of excited because after ill just be one step closer to chillin with all of my friends!

Noah's online journal, Oct. 5

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Kristi Dannelly, who organized the fundraiser and whose son is Noah's friend and teammate, is one of the horde of neighbors, friends, fellow church members, concerned strangers and Internet pals who have come forward to support Noah and his family.

Like everyone, she was shocked when she first heard about his illness.

"Devastated," she said. "But we all thought he would rebound. He was such a strong, active, healthy kid -- he runs with the big boys. It was amazing to think of this child, always so healthy and exuberant, lying there fighting for his life."

Neighbors say the overwhelming response is a tribute to the entire Thyberg family.

They note that the parents and all four children -- Daniel, 19, Leah, 17, Robert, 13, and Noah -- are active and involved, well-known in the community.

"Everybody's been touched by a Thyberg," Dannelly said. "They're amazing pillars in this community. ... We just want the family to know we're with them and will help them fight for their child."

Mark Corbett, who coached Noah for two years when Noah played quarterback for the Columbia Ravens football team, said it was "shocking to hear that two days after his lacrosse team won the tournament (in Pennsylvania in July), Noah was in the hospital. Just shocking."

At a county sports banquet Oct. 20, Corbett accepted a player-of-the-year award for Noah, recognizing Noah's performance with the Ravens.

"He's a great athlete, a great teammate and a fun-loving kid," Corbett said afterward. "But the thing about Noah is, even in the hospital, his biggest concern was with the team and things going on outside -- not himself."

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Wats happenin my friends, i hope everyone liked my video it has so many views already and people have been telling me that it is sooo good and some of my friends said that they even had tears comin down there face when they watched it, and that really touched me. haha i just hope i didnt look to different then my regular self! Which by the way, i bet a lot of you are all wonderin how my procedure on friday went, and i hate to break it to everyone but i need to go back to the hospital again =( JUST KIDDING!!! Im sorry i just really felt like making this exciting.

Noah's online journal, Oct. 10

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Two months after his transplant, Noah, according to his cardiologist, Dr. Scheel, "is doing great."

The biggest risk with heart transplant patients, she said, is that the patient's body will reject the new heart. Noah's first heart biopsy, a few weeks after the operation, revealed a troubling level of rejection. But the second, a couple of weeks later, was far more positive -- a huge relief for everyone who knows Noah.

He is scheduled for a third biopsy later this week and more in the future, and those will be only a few of a continuing series of tests, medical visits and checkups he'll need over the next few years.

After the first year or so, when the threat of rejection fades, Noah, like other transplant patients, will have to worry about complications like coronary artery disease and cancers, which are more common in transplant patients. He'll be weaned from some drugs -- including prednisone, the steroid that causes the facial swelling ("chipmunk cheeks," some call the effect) that has so annoyed Noah -- but others he'll be on for life.

Still, expectations are that Noah Thyberg, if he never becomes the next Peyton Manning, will at least go back to leading his lacrosse and football teams to victories, perhaps as early as next year.

Asked if Noah will play sports again, Scheel responded with an immediate, "Absolutely," and related the story of another area transplant patient who is now swimming competitively in college.

"Transplants are not perfect," Scheel said. "But the quality of life for most of the kids is very good.

"I would anticipate that Noah would get back to all those sports he was playing. ... I would hope that within a year or so, he'll be back to being the same Noah."

The same Noah, in fact, already is emerging. Scheel approved (somewhat reluctantly, since she does not recomend trampolines for anyone) his bouncing on his family's backyard trampoline, which he now does regularly. He also is back to tossing the football with his brother, and is jogging around his yard, increasing his runs as he gets stronger.

Noah hopes to return to school in December, although that depends on the results of the third biopsy and the ongoing flu season. He already has signed up to play lacrosse, his favorite sport, in the spring.

To his delight, Noah also went trick-or-treating with his friends on Halloween -- his "big debut," as his mother called it.

"His friends have been waiting for him to break free of the confines of this house," said Regina . "They were waiting by the door Halloween night."

Her son's recovery so far remains a source of wonder to Regina. But just as remarkable, she said, has been the community's reaction to her youngest son's trials.

"The medical miracles have been wonderful, of course," she said. "But the compassion and generosity that have come to us -- they have just been incredible."

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sooo as i was sayin my catherization went awesome! And the results were even better, they showed NO rejection and i even got to go down on some of my meds including the prednazone!!! so finally my face is goin back to normal and i dont need to take as many pills as i used too! wow i was so happy and everything is just goin in the right direction for me, and i can throw a football so much better than before or i mean after surgery and my whole chest is becoming really strong. Well i guess that i should end on a good note and ill write back soon and ill cya later!

Noah's online journal, Oct. 10

For more information on Noah, his recovery and efforts to help the family, go to www.cotafornoaht.com.

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