Local Resident Works to Bring Awareness to Organ Donation
April is National Donate Life Month (NDLM) during which a focus is placed on encouraging Americans to “register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation”. Events are planned all month across America as well as in Hardeman County to bring attention to the need for more people to consider organ donation. In Hardeman County. Wanda King also wants to recognize and honor Hardeman County organ donors.
King is an organ donor recipient, and she is thankful to not one, but two people who chose to give life after their deaths. She received a donor heart in 2015 and another one in 2020. Although both donations were a matter of life and death, King was not receptive at first to being an organ recipient.
“At first, I did not want an organ donation, until a friend reminded me that the donor chose to save a life, and also reminded me that the first organ donor was Jesus Christ. He just didn’t give an organ; he gave His Life.”
Because of the organ donations she received, King has been able to live and support her family during some challenging times that included the death of her father-in-law and being a caregiver for mother.
“I am so glad I was able to be there for my husband. His dad passed away on March 3, 2017. It was a hard time for our family,” said King. ”I am so thankful I was there to be my mother’s caregiver. Sadly, mom passed on December 2, 2019.”
Happier moments in her life include seeing her son graduate from high school and college, her daughter graduating from college as an LPN, marrying the “love of her life”, and also becoming a grandmother. She and her husband, Roger King, Jr., have celebrated 32 years, and counting, of marriage. King shared other happy moments.
“In April 2017, my first donor’s mom, stepfather, and niece got to hear his heartbeat. That was a special moment,” said King who is reminded daily of the blessings and challenges of being a donor recipient. “Although I have experienced depression and receiving a donor heart doesn’t mean I am healed, it has given me more time with my family.”
As a donor recipient, King’s immune system is compromised, which makes her susceptible to common infections and viruses that could lead to a hospital stay. She is cautious about her care and works to stay healthy.
King shares the reality of living as a donor recipient, which may sound difficult, but she still wants to encourage people to consider making that choice to become a donor.
“They could save someone’s life and be a hero to their recipients,” said King.
Marilyn Smith’s husband, Roy B. Smith, Jr., is a hero. She spoke at the Monday, April 10, 2023, City of Bolivar Council meeting during which Mayor McTiz read a proclamation recognizing National Donate Life Blue & Green Day. Smith shared that she did not realize her husband was a donor until shortly after he died. Although Smith has yet to decide if she will become an organ donor, she understands the importance of the decision.
“I thought it was wonderful of him to decide to give his organ away. That is a big decision. Hats off to all of those who are willing to donate their own organs,” said Smith.
It is King’s goal this month to raise awareness of organ donation and honor Hardeman Countians who made that decision and donated. King understands becoming an organ donor is a personal choice. Her hope is to help people better understand the process and she wants to answer their questions.
“There is nothing to be afraid of because when it is your time, you won’t even know, unless you decide to be a living donor. Then you will get to see the difference you made in someone’s life. There are more people waiting on kidneys than any other organ, and it is sad because those can be donated from a live donor,” said King. “We have a brother and sister here in Hardeman County where the brother donated a kidney to his sister. That is a great gift!”
King has discovered and met the families of several Hardeman County residents who were donors. It is her mission to find them all, so they can be honored.
On Friday, April 14, 2023, King participated in the National Donate Life Blue & Green Day, which is an event celebrated across America. She dressed up in blue and green to celebrate and bring awareness.
“I wore blue and green to bring awareness to the need for organ donors,” said King who is going a step further. “Many will question this, but God gave me a vision of a memorial flower garden. I have an idea to build a monument to organ donors from Hardeman County. The monument will serve as a reminder that organ donation matters.”
King plans for the monument to be a tapered square, about six feet tall, with an eternal flame in the center surrounded by the donate life ribbon. There will also be alternating blue and green ribbons, with the Gift of Life medallion on the front.
The plans for a monument are still being worked out. If you know of someone in Hardeman County who is an organ donor or a recipient, you may contact Wanda King through the Hardeman County Donate Life facebook page.
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