Saving lives after death | News

A decision today can often save a life tomorrow, and that has been the case as two deceased residents have saved the lives of others by being organ donors. 

The Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency and South Central Regional Medical Center recognized organ donors and celebrated them by hosting a flag-raising ceremony last Thursday. 

April is National Donate Life Month, and MORA observes this month with various events and initiatives to raise awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation. They encourage people to register as donors, educate the public, and celebrate those who have saved lives through donations. 

“Donation is in the heart of the staff here,” MORA Hospital Development Coordinator Joel Stevens said when talking about SCRMC. “This hospital does everything they are supposed to do. They make sure if there is a decision to be made, they get that decision-making opportunity.”

Currently, more than 100,000 people nationwide are waiting for an organ transplant, with an average of 16 people per day passing away while waiting for an organ. That is one of the things that led the McGill family and the Cooley family to allow their children’s organs to be used. 

Angelica McGill, 14, died in October 2011 in Jones County when she and her brother Dustin were involved in a car accident. Pam was against organ donation but said she consulted her family, who said it would be a good thing to do. 

“The day that they took her off life support and said that she was no longer with us kind of helped secure that decision for us,” Pam McGill, Angelica’s mother, said through tears.

Pam described Angelica as a happy person and a people person. Her brother, Dustin, said she was always looking for a kind word or something to lift your spirits. 

“I like to think she would have wanted this because she was the type of person who would have bent over backward to help someone,” Dustin said. “There is no way in this world she would’ve said no to this. She was that person.” 

April 10, the day of the ceremony, was Angelica’s birthday, and she would have been 28 years old. 

“It has been almost 14 years since we made the decision to donate Angelica’s organs and tissues,” Pam said. “We are grateful we were given the opportunity through MORA to be able to extend or enrich the lives of so many.” 

“I believe Angelica would want us to share how we followed the ultimate donor of life,” Pam said as she shared John 3:16 with the crowd of residents.

Sabrina Cooley, mother of Damarius Cooley, spoke to the residents in attendance. 

“I made the decision to make him an organ donor. I did it to save lives and to give a person a second chance in life,” she said. 

Damarius was a shooting victim at Premier Sports Bar & Grill on Ellisville Boulevard last February. Cooley was transported to Forrest General Hospital but was pronounced deceased at the hospital. 

“My son, being an organ donor, saved and changed so many lives,” Sabrina said. 

Damarius’ heart was donated, and on Feb. 14, Sabrina was able to attend an event where she met the man who received her son’s heart and was able to hear his heartbeat. 

“A year after my son’s passing, I was able to hear my son’s heartbeat again. It was miraculous,” Sabrina said. “I want to thank South Central for giving me the opportunity to speak today. If you can and will give a person a second chance in life, please do it.” 

Sabrina said she believed Damarius’ organs have saved anywhere from five to seven people, and she is glad she made the decision. 

Stevens said he is thankful for the families, and the flag-raising ceremony is just one of the ways they can honor those who have donated organs and tissue. 

“This all happens because of the community,” he said. “It takes everyone to make donations happen. Seeing this outpouring of staff and residents makes my heart swell. Having the donor families here is a way for them to talk about their loved ones, and really, who can tell the better story other than the donor families who were able to help save lives?” 

Stevens said it is important to understand organ and tissue donations, and there are misconceptions regarding them. 

“I would tell people to be informed about donations,” he said. “We have tons of education available, so make an informed decision about your yes decision.”