Mindy

My brother was born on September 23, 1981 with a rare liver disease; extrahepatic biliary atresia. He was on the liver transplant waitlist but unfortunately didn’t make it to transplantation and passed on August 30, 1982. My mother often talks about how happy of a baby he was despite all he was going through. His life inspired our family to become organ donors through the Circuit Clerk’s office.

My father was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his early 30s which is what doctors believe contributed to his diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) in 2021 which required he be put on the liver transplant waitlist. It seemed as if he went from being a relatively healthy person – going fishing and working on cars – to deteriorating rapidly. Despite the disease taking most of his mobility, he was able to walk me down the aisle at my wedding in September of 2022. His condition worsened in Summer of 2023 when he was put on hospice. He was freed of pain on September 30, 2023. I’ll forever miss his phone calls to check on me, tell me how proud he was of me and how much he loved me!

My husband’s best friend was in an accident while riding his moped which caused traumatic brain injury. Prior to his accident, he was best known for his Lee G News on social media and his passion for journalism and sports! He studied at Kentucky State University and used his love to tell stories in his community, from concerts, and comic con, to the dirt bowl and changes happening in Lexington. He became an organ donor on May 12, 2023.

“What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.” – Helen Keller