As an organ donor, she was able to improve – and save – the lives of several people as well.
Ballard died March 29 at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. She was 36. She had been hospitalized over the weekend after suffering a stroke caused by a blood clot in her lung.
Her parents, Jim and Nancy Ballard of East Lansing, Mich., take comfort in knowing that Sara was able to bestow the gift of life, and they hope that by sharing her story, others will become organ donors.
“When we were at the hospital, we found out that not many people donate, and we were surprised by that,” Nancy Ballard said. “Perhaps more people will become aware of it and really see the importance of it.”
Nationally, there were 7,943 deceased donors in 2010, according to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.
In Washington, there were 111 deceased donors in 2010, according to Andrea Gregg, a spokeswoman for LifeCenter Northwest, the organ-procurement organization that works with patients in Washington, Alaska, Montana and northern Idaho.
In South Sound, since 2007, there have been no donors at Capital Medical Center and just five at Providence St. Peter Hospital, Gregg said.
Why is the number so low, when so many people have those hearts on their driver’s licenses that indicate they’re organ donors?
Gregg said there are specific requirements to become a candidate. For example, a donor has to die in a hospital, and there must be ventilated support to keep organs viable for recovery.
“Every single case is extremely rare,” Gregg said. “Giving the gift of life – not everybody gets to do it.”
Sara Ballard was a registered organ donor, and she became a candidate when she was declared brain dead on a Tuesday morning. She was kept on support until about 8 p.m. Wednesday, when a team of doctors began the organ recovery, her mother said.
Within hours, Sara’s right kidney, liver and corneas were flown to hospitals throughout the region and transplanted into other people. Her parents weren’t given many details, but they cherish the ones they heard.
“The woman who received Sara’s liver had a birthday five days before that, and said it was the best birthday present she ever received,” Nancy Ballard said.
In addition, medical professionals were able to recover other tissue, such as bones, ligaments, tendons and surface skin (which often goes to help burn victims) from Sara’s body. Tissue can be stored until a match is found.
“It could actually be years before all of the recovered tissues are used,” Gregg said.
About 70 people – including the pilots who flew the helicopters and the couriers rushing blood samples to the lab – were involved in Sara Ballard’s organ recovery effort, Gregg said.
And while four people benefited right away from the kidney, liver and corneas (which went to two people), the number is expected to expand as more matches are made for Sara Ballard’s tissue.
“A single donor can actually impact the lives of more than 50 people,” Gregg said.
The Ballards say they know their daughter would be glad she was able to help so many people.
And someday, they would like to meet the recipients.
“Sara, all of her adult life lived to be a volunteer, and we know how important that was to her,” Nancy Ballard said. “And we would be able to see them – the lives that she saved.”
Lisa Pemberton: 360-754-5433 lpemberton@theolympian.com
BECOME A DONOR
• Register at www. donatelifetoday.com.
• Call 1-877-275-5269 for a brochure and registration form.
• Register when you renew your driver’s license.
