From opposite ends of the process, Cindy O’Reilly and Jenna Powell are in full agreement: National Donate Life Month is a special opportunity for people to realize the monumental impact they can have, while living, to change and save the lives of those in need of organ, eye, and tissue transplants.
O’Reilly, an Administrative Assistant at Community Electric Cooperative, five years ago this April 26 donated part of her liver to the mother of a young lady whom O’Reilly’s son was dating at the time. Powell and her husband, James, are Southampton County parents of a toddler, one year old Rhett, who last December received a new liver after spending his young life battling the effects of Alagille syndrome, an affliction that primarily affects the functioning of the liver and causes bile to build up within it.
“To me, National Donate Life Month is about raising awareness for organ, eye, and tissue donation,” O’Reilly said of the April observance. “It is about engaging and encouraging others to register as donors, honoring donors and their families, and celebrating transplant recipients.”
Powell said, “If your driver’s license says that you are an organ donor, it does not stop doctors and emergency personnel from doing everything in their power to save your life. You can be an organ donor while you are alive. Your liver can regrow. People live their lives every day with just one kidney.”
The stories of the Powells, who are CEC members, and of O’Reilly and her liver recipient, Rebecca, give a sense of just how widespread the need for donations is. The organization Donate Life America, which established Donate Life Month along with partner entities in 2003, says that more than 100,000 people nationwide are awaiting life saving transplants. “Transplants rely on the generosity of organ, eye, and tissue donors, and there are not enough donors to meet the need,” the organization states.
O’Reilly, who this May celebrates her 32nd year as a CEC employee, began exploring the possibility of donating part of her liver immediately after she met Rebecca for the first time and learned of the seriousness of Rebecca’s condition.
“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. How can I help?’” O’Reilly recalled. “My son is the same way. He wanted to donate, and I said, ‘Honey, you have your whole life ahead of you.’”
After completing the necessary paperwork and a variety of medical tests, O’Reilly learned that she “matched perfectly” in terms of blood type, liver size, and other aspects with Rebecca. She surprised her friend with the news over Easter dinner in early April 2021 and, three weeks later, underwent surgery, during which she donated 69% of the larger right lobe of her liver.
“Within 30 days, my liver had regenerated 80%. I had such a cool doctor. He took a picture of the liver when he removed it,” O’Reilly said. “My son and her daughter are no longer dating, but Rebecca and I are liver sisters. We still celebrate our transplant anniversary and our birthdays together. As she tells me, I am her angel; I saved her life.”
Rhett Powell, after receiving his liver transplant, is doing “amazing,” his mother said. Fluid buildup on his lungs forced him to remain hospitalized for about a month after the surgery, but he is now home and taking his first steps.
“He has grown and gained weight like a normal toddler would!” Powell said. “He does not have any vitamin deficiencies since his liver works like a normal liver. He is able to sleep. He is focusing on meeting milestones because he is no longer focused on itching.
“Rhett taught me that not everyone on the transplant list made it there because they made bad decisions, and those who did have made all the right ones to be able to get listed. It takes a long time after struggling with addiction to get listed on a transplant list. Those patients have earned their spots there. In contrast, there are many adults on the list because of genetic conditions that worsened as they got older. No one thinks about that and only assumes the worst.”
O’Reilly credits her strong faith life and the support she received from her family and CEC colleagues as the foundations that led her to become an organ donor.
“I feel that God really put us here on this earth for a reason, and that is to love one another in times of need, and we never know what our calling is unless we pray and ask,” O’Reilly said. “I do not think people understand this is something that can be done, and the donor will still live a full and healthy life with no problems other than a scar. It is emotional, but it also is a rewarding feeling to know you can help others live a full life. I felt I had a precious gift that could save someone’s life.”