Personal Stories

Evonne's Story

Evonne describes the relationship shared with her 27-year-old daughter, Tanya, as more like sisters then mother and daughter. She describes Tanya as a loving, caring and selfless person. “She was just special. She was always just so warm; she was easy to love.” Evonne had talked to her daughters about what to do in the event she died, but never did she expect what was about to come.

Tanya started having headaches and they continued for two weeks until she had to be rushed to the hospital. Doctors at Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center informed Evonne that Tanya had suffered a brain aneurysm and was brain dead. The family was devastated.

Shortly after Tanya’s death, her family was approached about organ and tissue donation. Evonne and her family prayed about it and, without knowing Tanya’s wishes at that time, decided that Tanya would probably want to be a donor. “My daughter, the loving and caring person she was, would do anything for you. She would give me anything…she would give anybody anything.”

Evonne left the hospital with a bag of Tanya’s belongings, while also carrying the heavy weight of concern that she might not have made the right decision to donate Tanya’s organs. After weeks of enduring sleepless nights and grieving for the loss of her daughter and best friend, Evonne longed to feel closer to Tanya so she decided to go through Tanya’s bag.

“I took out her shirt... and I felt it. It smelled just like her.” Evonne then found Tanya’s driver’s license and discovered that she chose to be an organ donor. “I called my daughter Bridget and I said ‘Bridget…we made the right decision. Out of all that hurt and out of all that pain... and grief.’ That is one thing that helped me go on is that I did something… I know Tanya is proud of me. It keeps me going everyday.”

“Once I found her license it made it easier because I knew then that I had done what she wanted me to do. I don’t feel such a great loss. I don’t have her... but I have so much to hold on to. To know that she has helped several more makes it even greater. It is a blessing.”

“There is nothing else you can do with the organs... don’t take them to the grave. Leave them…somebody is crying…somebody is begging…somebody is in need."