Page 17 - Layout 1

TRANSPLANTS
& TRANSFUSION

J.K. Huey (center) with daughter Amy Gordon and son Justin Bateman. Radu holding Justin's son Carter.

“To me there was no question that Justin would want “Radu is an amazing guy,” Huey said. “He said he was feeling in-
to do this,” Huey said. “It did not take long for the credibly lucky that night, but couldn’t help but think about the donor
family to come together and make a joint decision.” family.”

We remained at Justin’s side throughout the night and the next The transplant operation went remarkably well. Radu and his wife
morning, and he was pronounced dead that afternoon, March 16. informed Huey that the doctors told them they did not even have
to shock the heart to get it beating again once it was put in his chest
Just one month before the accident, Justin had become a minor — which was a very good sign. In addition to the heart, they were
celebrity when he was featured on the local TV news after stopping able to use Justin’s liver, kidneys, corneas and other skin and bone
to assist at another fatal traffic accident. Justin comforted a young tissue to help many other transplant patients.
woman involved in a head-on collision as she took her final breaths,
and he was later deemed a “Good Samaritan” by the local media. “We were so glad that the heart was able to be used,” Huey said.
“And seven months after we lost Justin, I received a letter from TOSA
So Huey had no doubts that her son would want to continue help- with the letter from Radu advising that he hoped to meet our family.
ing people even in death. And that decision gave new life and hope A few weeks later, Radu and his wife came to our home to meet us
to another family. for the first time. He told us that he will always take care of this
heart and how blessed he feels to have it.”
Radu (last name withheld by request) of Austin was in need of a new
heart and knew that his chances of getting one in time were slim. But Radu gave Huey a James Avery bracelet with two
he saw on the news a report about a “Good Samaritan” in San Antonio silver links held together by a heart of gold “I just
who had recently passed away. Shortly thereafter he was notified that cherish it,” Huey said. “I have worn it every day
there was a heart available. He put two and two together and told his since.”
family that he had a feeling he knew whose heart he was going to get.

visit us at www.bcms.org 17