by Kia White
Dani Reese was an eighth-grade Girl Scout and aspiring actor with dreams of making it big in show business.
One day her dream was tragically cut short, as Dani passed away from what was believed to be a brain bleed related to a pulmonary embolism at just 13 years old.
After talking it over with her husband Mike, Donnetta Quarles-Reese ensured that her daughter would be a tissue donor. Through the donation process, Dani was able to give the gift of sight to not one, but two individuals in her home state of Virginia.
Tragically, 10 years after that loss Donnetta also lost Mike to a massive stroke. Again, Donnetta said yes to the donation.
These two tragedies illustrate the power of donation − but far too many other stories have a less hopeful outcome.
Our Black communities are facing a crisis: More organ and tissue donors are urgently needed. More than 100,000 people are awaiting an organ transplant in the U.S, including more than 2,800 here in Virginia.
The reality is, Black patients make up nearly one-third of the national organ transplant waiting list, with at least three Black patients dying each day because they did not receive a lifesaving organ transplant in time. Almost half of those who are waiting for a lifesaving organ in Virginia are Black.
How many of us know someone who is on dialysis? Many of those people are waiting for a lifesaving kidney. Others may be waiting for a heart or a liver.
Being willing to donate makes a world of difference: One organ donor can save the lives of up to nine transplant recipients, and one tissue donor can enhance the lives of more than 150 people.
You may ask why diversity matters. For starters, it increases the likelihood of a genetic match between an organ donor and a recipient, which is particularly important in cases involving rare immune system markers. Shared ethnicity between a donor and recipient can increase the chances for long-term survival.
LifeNet Health, the Organ Procurement Organization serving most of Virginia, is committed to addressing disparities in donation and transplantation. Because of these efforts, more Black patients here are receiving the gift of a kidney. In the LifeNet Health service area, 50% of donated kidneys are going to Black recipients, compared to 34% at other U.S. OPOs.
LifeNet Health also launched the One Hero program, which helps to advance health by increasing access among Black Virginians, in 2021. This work is centered on providing facts and education − and ultimately raising awareness about the ripple effect of good that comes from donation.
In the Black communities in Virginia, far too many individuals say “no” when we approach them about organ donation, largely due to myths and misconceptions about the process. But when we can meet these Virginians where they are and have face-to-face conversations about the power of donation, registrations increase. Ultimately, this will provide hope for thousands.
The good that can come from donation is exemplified in stories like Donnetta’s.
Despite her personal hardships, Donnetta has become a vital advocate for donation awareness in Virginia. She has faced unthinkable loss, yet she continues to channel her pain into positivity and support for others. Her story is nothing short of inspiring, and she should be an example to all of us in our community.
I invite all of you to consider how we can each give someone else a second chance at life by considering the option of organ, cornea, and tissue donation. Signing up as a donor is a fast, easy process at RegisterMe.org. You can also register at the DMV.
