NEWS Nevada donates the gift of life
CHOOSING whether to donate her daughter's organs was the last thing on Trish Jones’ mind when Nevada, 37, tragically passed away in 2016.
It made it a relief to find out her daughter had secretly registered to be an organ donor in 2007, and meant Nevada’s vital organs could be donated to those in need.
“When Nevada died I was in such a state of shock and trauma. I was paralysed with grief and your mind isn’t clear about making decisions,” Ms Jones said. “It was a sense of relief, not having to make that decision and honour her decision to make her organs a gift of life to save critically ill people.”
She said she was proud of her daughter’s decision, and urged others to look into making the same decision as Nevada’s donation is recognised this DonateLife week.
“Registering is critical, particularly while you’re alive. I couldn’t cope with suddenly finding out she’s dead and in the next breath they were asking ‘can we have her organs?’,” she said.
“In terms of my daughter’s contribution, she has joined a special and unique group of honourable donors who, in my view, have reached the ultimate in achieving a truly better and honest version of ourselves and humanity.
“We all like to think we’re honourable people, but the most honourable act is the gift of life — that’s what she has given.”
Ms Jones said an unexpected outcome was seeing her daughter’s spirit live on in five other people, with her lungs, kidneys and liver all donated.
“When I received some beautiful letters from the recipients of Nevada’s organs, it clarified the importance to me and why it happened,” she said. “Those letters helped me immediately in seeing a deeper sense of purpose and perspective of what a compassionate, caring and selfless gift organ donation can be. Her spirit and DNA now lives on through these most gracious and grateful and special people.”