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This #IndigenousPeoplesDay, we honor Danny Eschief, who saved and healed 20 people through organ and tissue donation back in 2016.
He worked as a tribal recreation coordinator with the Gila River Indian Community—specifically the Akimel O’Otham tribe. (cont. in thread)
He worked as a tribal recreation coordinator with the Gila River Indian Community—specifically the Akimel O’Otham tribe. (cont. in thread)
His daughter, Debbie Eschief (pictured with her daughters), says people were easily drawn to Danny, and that’s why he was so successful in bringing the Native community together through sports. He had a community first mentality, helping others even after passing. (cont.)
“We never really talked about organ donation in our Native culture and our traditions,” Debbie says about when she learned her father had registered himself. “He just said, ‘If somebody can use it, I rather somebody benefit.’” (cont.)
Anyone remember the young man pictured here with Princess Di? On Aug 13, 1985, at 3 years old, Jamie Gavin of Dublin made headlines internationally as the youngest person at the time to undergo heart-lung transplant. The surgery was performed by Sir Magdi Yacoub. #CHD #DonateLife
Jamie was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (#HLHS). Surgical options then were few. Bill Norwood had only just published his initial series on HLHS palliation; most centers remained wary. In 1984, another baby with HLHS, Baby Fae, received a baboon heart transplant.
Just 5 months before Jamie's operation, Yacoub's team had performed a heart-lung transplant on 5yo Brooke Matthews of Australia, who was at the time the youngest heart-lung recipient. Her story generated drama when her father held up a hamburger stand to help pay for her surgery!
