Christian, Donor
Alison, Recipient
Six Lives Changed by One Decision
When Kirby and Martha walked into the Emergency & Trauma Center in August, they were facing every parent’s worst nightmare. Their 23-year-old son, Christian, had been critically injured in an ATV accident. In the hours that followed, physicians, nurses and other team members walked beside the family through the most difficult decisions of their lives. “The people there went above and beyond,” Martha said. “From the moment we arrived until the last step we took out of the hospital, the compassion and respect they showed us meant everything.” Throughout the long night and the following day, the hospital waiting room filled with friends, neighbors and extended family from the tight-knit Scott County community. The room resounded with stories about Christian — the young man who loved trucks and engines, who never met a stranger and who would drop everything to help someone in need. “If somebody needed help, he’d be at our bedroom door saying he was heading out to take care of it,” Martha said. “That was just who he was.” Christian’s helping nature was evident when he applied for his driver’s license and registered as an organ donor. Because of that choice, Christian’s legacy now lives on through six people in six different states who received life-saving organ transplants. One of those lives changed by Christian’s generosity was here in Tennessee. Alison, a former paramedic and currently an EMT instructor at TCAT in Jacksboro, had spent decades responding to emergencies and caring for others. When her kidney function suddenly began to decline, she found herself in a situation she had witnessed countless times from the other side of the ambulance.
“I spent 30 years taking care of sick patients and taking them to dialysis,” Alison said. “Suddenly, I was the one who needed help.” Just days after Christian’s accident, she received the call that Kirby and Martha had chosen to donate one of Christian’s kidneys to her. When Alison arrived for surgery, Kirby, Martha and their family were waiting near the hospital entrance. Though their lives had only briefly intersected before within their small community, that moment created a connection none of them will ever forget. The transplant was successful, and Alison’s recovery was remarkable. Within weeks, she returned to the life she once feared she might lose. For Kirby and Martha, knowing their son’s decision helped others has brought a measure of light in an incredibly dark time. Although they hope to hear someday from the other organ recipients, they have no expectations. “We just want to know their lives are better than they were,” Martha said. “I knew my son had wings,” Kirby said. “I just didn’t realize how far they’d carry him.”
You Can Help Save a Life
Today, more than 2,800 Tennesseans are waiting for a life-saving transplant. Registering as an organ donor is a simple decision that can give someone the chance at more time with the people they love. You can also become a living kidney donor by contacting the Center for Transplant Services at LivingDonor@utmck.edu or by calling 865-305-5340.
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