February 14th, often celebrated as Valentine’s Day, also serves as an important day to raise awareness for organ, eye, and tissue donations. It is a time to recognize donors and the individuals waiting for transplants. Lamb Haggerty, a heart transplant recipient and advocate for organ donation, shared his emotional journey to highlight the significance of these life-saving donations.
Haggerty’s journey began when doctors informed him that his heart was failing and that he would need a transplant to survive. After being placed on the transplant list, his condition worsened quickly, and he was close to running out of time. Within weeks, he moved up on the transplant list, and after waiting between one to two weeks, he received the life-saving call. Haggerty expressed his immense relief and joy when he was told a heart had been found for him, marking a turning point in his battle for life.
The transplant surgery took place after a complex coordination between doctors, including a nurse who rushed back to Memphis to assist in the procedure. Haggerty emphasized his gratitude for the medical team and the family of the donor who gave him a second chance at life. He acknowledged the emotional weight of receiving the heart, knowing that someone else had to lose their life for him to survive, a feeling often referred to as “survivor’s guilt.”
Haggerty also used the opportunity to encourage others to register as organ donors. He highlighted the importance of not only signing up on a driver’s license but also informing family members about one’s wishes to donate. He stressed that organ donation is vital for saving lives, with the process relying on a communal effort.
