Jimmy Howe became an organ donor on the last day of his life, when his donation saved the lives of four others. His heart, liver, and kidneys went to individuals who were suffering from chronic illnesses and whose only chance at a long life rested in someone’s final act of selflessness.
For Jimmy, he knew the importance of organ donation, registering as early as he could at age 16. For Jimmy’s family, his act of generosity brought comfort, knowing his gift gave others more time with their loved ones. His story is a powerful reminder of how one person’s decision – and one program – can transform loss into renewed purpose. Thanks to donors like Jimmy in 2024, hundreds of family members have celebrated the recovery of their loved ones, and over 100 organ recipients have received a life-saving gift.
For a third year in a row, teams at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital have reached a somber but powerful milestone, saving the most lives through deceased organ donation out of any other LifeNet Health partner in Virginia. This is thanks to the concerted effort of Trauma Services, Chaplaincy and organ procurement partner LifeNet Health.
“Organ donors are heroes, and we’ve been witness to many moments of selflessness and generosity throughout the last year,” said Afton Jamerson, Carilion Trauma Program Director. “It’s not unusual for a Level 1 trauma center to work with donors and their families to give the gift of life. What is unique, however, is Carilion’s focused effort to educate and support care teams, families and patients to ensure that no opportunities to save lives are missed.”
Beginning in 2023, Carilion Roanoke Memorial worked with LifeNet Health to integrate two full-time In-House Transplant Coordinators, who help facilitate organ donation referrals and educate families and staff about the importance of donation.
“One donor can save up to eight lives,” said Alex Brendel, Regional Hospital Services Coordinator for LifeNet Health. “Even if someone is a registered organ donor, the overall process is complex and requires the entire care team and family to work together to make organ donation happen.”
Carilion teams host honor walks to recognize organ donors and express gratitude for their gift, lining the halls as family and friends join the donor on their way to the operating room to give the gift of life. During his honor walk procession, Jimmy’s care teams celebrated his passion and talent for music by playing a song he wrote.
“It was a good way to say goodbye,” said Vicky Grant, Jimmy’s mother. “Knowing that there was a lot of love there while we were walking down the hallway… And having Jimmy play his song that he wrote added to the beauty of it.”
After seeing the program’s impact over the last two years, Trauma Services set a lofty goal of saving 100 lives through deceased organ donation in calendar year 2024 – they would be the first LifeNet partner in Virginia to do so.“We are proud of our work to honor donors,” said Jamerson. “If we’re lucky enough to not have any more patients pass this year, we’ve already touched a record number of lives – that’s truly something to celebrate.”
What is remarkable about this milestone is that Carilion is not yet an established transplant center; one does not currently exist in Southwest Virginia. They are aiming to change that, working to garner state approval to launch a Kidney Transplant Program.
“There is clearly an appetite in our region to support organ donation right here,” said David Salzberg, M.D., the surgeon who would lead the Kidney Transplant Program if approved. “Gaining state approval for a transplant program in our region would be significant. In addition to facilitating deceased donations, we’d be able to introduce the possibility of living donors through our network, which would have a huge impact on those struggling with kidney disease – the ninth leading cause of death in the U.S.”
Public support for launching Carilion’s Kidney Transplant Program is a critical element in achieving state approval. If you haven’t already, consider submitting an email through this website and spreading the word with your friends and family: KidneyTransplantSWVA.org. You can also sign up to become an organ donor at DonateLifeVirginia.org.
