Observed in April each year, National Donate Life Month features activities to help encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those who have saved lives through the gift of donation.
Observed in April each year, National Donate Life Month features activities to help encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those who have saved lives through the gift of donation.
As part of the month-long celebration, INTEGRIS Health would like to highlight two heart transplant success stories. Click the video box below.
Forever Bonded by an Ironic Gift
Latricia Williams and Kenneth Dyer didn’t know each other when they went into the hospital, but they certainly formed a lifelong friendship by the time they left. They are forever bonded by an ironic gift, both receiving their heart transplants on Valentine’s Day.
“I met a little buddy up there. His name is Kenny,” remembers Latricia. “Kenny would just be flying around walking real fast and I was like ‘Wait one minute. I can’t let him beat me,’ so I started doing the walking too.”
What started off as friendly competition, blossomed into a unique connection built by a shared experience.
“We would race around the ICU, but when it came to getting out of the hospital, she outran me and got out first,” reflects Kenneth. “She’s one of the kindest people I have ever met. We will share Valentine’s Day for the rest of our lives.”
The procedures were completed by Oklahoma’s only adult heart transplant program, continuing a legacy of life‑saving care that began with the hospital’s first adult heart transplant in 1985.
“There is no more meaningful symbol of love than the gift of an organ,” says David Vanhooser, M.D., a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon at the INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital. “To restore hope and deliver two hearts to two deserving patients on Valentine’s weekend underscores both the generosity of donor families and the extraordinary commitment of our transplant program.”
INTEGRIS Health extends deep gratitude to the donor families whose selfless decisions made these lifesaving surgeries possible. Their generosity serves as a powerful reminder of the impact organ donation can have on countless lives.
How You Can Help People Like Latricia and Kenneth
Oklahomans have three options to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor. Residents can sign-up when renewing their driver’s license, visit LifeShareRegistry.org to sign up online, or call 800-826-LIFE (5433) and request a donor registration form.
