Organ donor family and recipient family meet

Written by | Lauren Clark

LITTLE ROCK, Ar. (KTHV)--A Benton man, Shon Hardin, received a special donation to save his life. Johnathan McMillen, of Fort Smith passed away last December; and as an organ donor, he helped more than one family through organ donation.

The two families met for the first time Saturday morning at the ARORA offices in Little Rock.

"We miss him. We miss him terribly. We're glad he lives on though" says Tracy McMillen of her stepson, Johnathan McMillen.

"I was at high risk. And, needed surgery. And...a pretty difficult time for both families at that time I bet," says Shon Hardin of Benton.

Shon Hardin isn't the only nervous one in the room Saturday morning. He met the family of the boy who donated an organ which saved his life. But when the door opens, reserve is replaced with relief.

Johnathan's family says he chose to be an organ donor. When he got his license he was very vocal about it.

Johnathan was 19 years old when he lost his life in an ATV accident last December. That was about the same time Shon was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver.

Tracy says "Johnathan was, at the time, he was the only organ donor in the state of Arkansas to donate his organs."

Mcmillen's liver went to Hardin.

Monty says of his son, "He loved the outdoors, he loved his friends, he loved what he did."

Tracy says, "You never know. You just never know so it's so important to be an organ donor."