Every parent’s worst nightmare is not being able to help their child. Some awake in a cold sweat to find their children perfectly safe and everything back to normal. But for others, unfortunately, they are forced to live it.
Katrina was 18 and had just welcomed her new baby Jaleel to the world. She quickly discovered that every day with him was an opportunity to feel a new kind of joy. A baby’s first words, their first steps, discovering if they have your eyes or nose - these are the moments a mother waits for. These are the moments that help a new mom forget just how sleep deprived she is or that she hasn’t showered in days. It’s during these moments, like when Katrina was holding Jaleel, nothing else mattered.
But with moments of indescribable happiness, there can also be remarkable pain along a new parent’s journey. Sadly, for Katrina, her journey through motherhood was being cut short.
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Every parent’s worst nightmare is not being able to help their child. Some awake in a cold sweat to find their children perfectly safe and everything back to normal. But for others, unfortunately, they are forced to live it.
Katrina was 18 and had just welcomed her new baby Jaleel to the world. She quickly discovered that every day with him was an opportunity to feel a new kind of joy. A baby’s first words, their first steps, discovering if they have your eyes or nose - these are the moments a mother waits for. These are the moments that help a new mom forget just how sleep deprived she is or that she hasn’t showered in days. It’s during these moments, like when Katrina was holding Jaleel, nothing else mattered.
But with moments of indescribable happiness, there can also be remarkable pain along a new parent’s journey. Sadly, for Katrina, her journey through motherhood was being cut short.
At just five weeks old, Jaleel stopped breathing. With nothing and no one to blame for this tragedy, Katrina was left to reconcile with the fact that her baby - brand new to the world and an entire future ahead of him - was gone. His first words, first steps, watching him grow up - these anticipated memories are now painful reminders for Katrina of what could have been. Even so, during her darkest hour of sorrow, Katrina was given the chance to create a memory she never knew she needed.
While at the hospital, Katrina was approached about organ donation. When the topic was first brought up, it was Katrina’s father who initially wanted to pass on the conversation wanting to protect his daughter. However, Katrina’s motherly instincts grew loud. “My spirit told me differently and I’m so glad I followed my heart on this one,” said Katrina. As a self-proclaimed “daddy’s girl”, Katrina’s decision to go against her father’s initial wishes was difficult but it’s a decision she is so thankful for. Even Katrina’s father, after having time to process, is eternally grateful for his daughter’s brave choice.
Because of Katrina’s decision to donate, Jaleel, the young hero, went on to save a two-month-old boy with his heart and an 11-month-old girl with his liver. In fact, the liver recipient is now a mother herself all thanks to Katrina and Jaleel’s selfless gifts.
Jaleel’s death was a tragedy but in the midst of navigating grief, Katrina was able to find a way to cement this young hero’s legacy. “He was just five weeks old. There were no memories for us to share together, so organ donation gave me a story to tell about my baby,” says Katrina.
Katrina shares her story in an effort to keep Jaleel’s memory alive and to encourage others to sign up as life-saving organ donors. Katrina, along with her father, is an active volunteer with LiveOnNY, the federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) for the New York City metropolitan area. She works closely with LiveOnNY’s hospital network to join rounds with nursing units to thank them for their work and instrumental role in the organ donation process. Katrina also speaks to newly hired employees at LiveOnNY to share her and Jaleel’s story and participates in digital campaigns that amplify the importance of organ donation to communities across New York. Finally, with the support of LiveOnNY’s Aftercare Department, Katrina created the group, Grief to Heal, which offers support and guidance to members who are navigating the bereavement journey.
Katrina’s volunteer work in support of organ donation is more important than ever as the waitlist of those waiting for a donor grows each day.
Today, more than 8,000 people in New York state are on the organ transplant waiting list and more than 100,000 are waiting across the nation. Just one donor can save up to eight lives. And through donation of tissue, a donor can help heal up to 50-75 people.
“Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him, but after that thought I remember that he saved two babies’ lives and I stand up a little bit taller because he left a legacy,” she says. “I am absolutely proud of Jaleel for saving lives.”
Heroes come in all sizes - Jaleel, the small but mighty warrior, even in death, and Katrina, the undeterred mother with formidable instincts. Together, mom and son became heroes that day through organ donation - a memory for Katrina that no one can take away.
To learn more about how you can become an organ donor hero, please visit LiveOnNY.org.
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