Parents Remember Son Who Donated Six Organs

Written by

Meghan Packer



Winston-Salem, NC -- Almost one year ago, 22-year-old Jimmy Anderson died from complications from a brain tumor.

His adoptive parents, Don and Barbara Anderson of Stokesdale, made the decision to donate Jimmy's organs.

"That was just something that we had to do. We had to give his organs so someone else would be able to use them and live," said Barbara.

"Since Jimmy was an athletic type person, he took care of his body and most of the organs in his body were used to help someoneelse," said Don.

Jimmy donated a total of six organs: his heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver. He was the first person to donate that many organs at Forsyth Medical Center.

The Andersons received a letter informing them about the people who received Jimmy's organs.

Don said, "We never had the opportunity to meet these people but we feel blessed that someone else is walking around because of Jimmy."

Organ donation is a special part of their lives and they encourage everyone to consider it.

"I can't even express how important it is for organ donation. My brother had an extra 17 years of life because someone donated their pancreas and kidney," said Barbara.

Forsyth Medical Center has an organ donation flag that is flown to honor organ donors at the hospital. Jimmy was the first person for whom the hospital flew the flag and it has been raised 12 times since last May.

"It's a wonderful, wonderful thing to give the gift of life to someone else," said Don.

Barbara said, "That is such a gift of life and I can't tell you what it means to know that he's living on."