Husband, wife and their three kids – including baby heart transplant recipient – are found shot dead in their US home
Police say a dog was found dead and a handgun and 'murder-suicide note' discovered inside the home
A FAMILY of five made famous for the heart transplant their daughter underwent have all died in an apparent murder-suicide.
Mark and Megan Short and their three children were found shot dead at their home in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania.
Police say a murder-suicide note was found at the scene, but have refused to say who they think was responsible.
They added all five died of gunshot wounds and a handgun was found near one of the adults.
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District Attorney John Adams said: "This is an apparent tragic domestic incident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families at this difficult time."
Police went to the home to check on the welfare of the family after receiving a call from a relative concerned that the woman had not shown up for a lunch date.
Mark, 40; Megan, 33; and their children 8-year-old Lianna, 5-year-old Mark Jr, and 2-year-old Willow were found dead in the living room, Adams said.
A pet dog was also found dead.
The district attorney's office said the married couple had been having "domestic issues".
In an April 13 post on Philly at Heart, Megan Short wrote of her emotional struggles over her child's condition.
When only days old, Willow had a heart transplant for a congenital defect.
Her family was featured in articles in The Reading Eagle in 2014 and in The New York Times last year about her condition and the Shorts' difficulties obtaining anti-rejection medication for her.
In the post on the website devoted to families dealing with congenital heart issues, Megan Short said anxiety over her daughter's condition had left her with post-traumatic stress disorder.
She said she suffered from "anxiety and nightmares" triggered by smells, hallways or even the beeping sound of a phone.
She also said she experienced "survivor's guilt" when children with similar problems from other families passed away.
"I don't think PTSD ever truly goes away but, with therapy, medication, and the right support, I have begun to loosen its grip on me," she said.
"As I work on my own mental healing, I wanted to share my experience so that other heart parents know they are not alone."
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