Source: Yuma SunDespite a tragic death at a young age, Yuman Jacob Daily has reached beyond the grave and improved the lives of several people, all through the donation of his organs.
Daily, who was 24, died in March 2009. The Daily family decided to donate his organs to the Donor Network of Arizona (DNA), a federally designated nonprofit organ procurement organization for the state of Arizona and a tissue and eye recovery organization.
In honor of Jacob and over 80 other donors in Arizona, DNA is setting up a “Circle of Life” garden for Donate Life Day on Tuesday on the lawn of the Arizona State Capitol. Photos of each donor will be on display for the general public to view.
Jacob, a Kofa High graduate, was critically injured in a rollover accident while working in Dome Valley on March 12, 2009. He was flown to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, where he later died.
"When we first got to the hospital, we met with Jacob's neurosurgeon," said Jennifer Daily-Loredo, Jacob's sister. "He told us Jacob had severe trauma to his head. It was hard to even recognize my brother. The doctor said the best we would have gotten if Jacob had recovered would be him laying in a bed."
Loredo said her brother was an avid outdoorsman and wouldn't have wanted to live on as a vegetable.
"If we had kept him cooped up inside, it's not what he would have wanted. We asked for a second opinion, and a second doctor came in and told us Jacob was approaching brain death. I started to think if we are going to lose my brother, let’s have it mean something.”
Although anguished at what happened to their young son and brother, the Daily family chose organ donation. Jacob gave his liver, kidneys, corneas and tissue to save and heal lives.
"We talked to the donor network as a family, and if we weren't gong to be able to keep Jacob with us, we wanted to do something to allow him to be a hero. We decided if we could save people, let's do it."
Now at least four people's lives have been forever changed with the gift of new organs.
"The liver transplant recipient is a 50-year-old Hispanic woman," wrote Michael Martinez, DNA family advocate, in a letter to the Daily family.
"She is from California and doing well following her surgery. We are told that she is the mother to three adult children. Jake has given her a new start and a renewed hope for a healthy future. What a gift Jake has given to this woman and her family."
Martinez said the right kidney was transplanted into a 64-year-old Native American woman from Arizona.
"Recovery has been slow and steady for this recipient. She is retired and the mother to six children. In her leisure she enjoys long walks, knitting for her family and occasionally a little gambling at a local casino. Jake’s gift has given this woman so much hope."
The left kidney was given to a 10-year-old Hispanic girl from Arizona.
"Her failing health forced her to go on the waiting list..." Martinez said. "Her family, no doubt, was wondering if anyone’s generosity would reach out to her. And now Jake’s gift of life has offered this young girl a future and so much hope."
Martinez said DNA was also able to successfully recover vein, bone tissue and skin tissue for transplantation.
"This sharing of life will offer so much hope and possibility to others. (Jacob's) gift will touch as many as twenty people. These life enhancing tissue procedures allow people to lead normal and healthy lives and their gratitude is great."
Loredo said someone is now looking through one of Jacob's eyes.
"He was also able to give one of his corneas and repair eyesight for somebody who had been blind."
Daily-Loredo hopes to meet the recipients of the transplants someday and said their new hope and strength also give courage and happiness to her family.
"As sad as everything was for us, that is the one thing that gives us a little hope. There is not a day that goes by that all of us don't think about him. To know that my brother went out being able to impact four people's lives... that is an amazing way to be able to leave this earth."
In addition to Daily-Loredo, Jacob is survived by parents, Jim and Lynn Daily, and brothers, James and Joe.
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