posted May 20, 2008
I just read Roy Exum's article on organ donations. I will give a little background on my situation.
On Wednesday, March 19, 2008, my nine-year-old daughter, Jessie Anna Starnes, died at T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital from brain death. One of the toughest decisions for our family was to terminate her life, but my family did. This decision was not taken very lightly, but we ultimately wanted our daughter's life to help others, even after she had left this world, to be a better place.
My daughter's death was not in vain as she helped seven others receive the gift of life from these donations through Tennessee Donors Services. Our family wanted our tragedy to be some other families Triumph.
I am thrilled Jessie has helped all these people through her gifts:
Heart - 12-year-old girl
Lungs - 17-year-old girl
Kidney - 55-year-old man
Kidney - 71-year-old woman
Liver - 44-year-old woman
Cornea - 28-year-old woman
Cornea - 6-month-old baby boy
Always remember we don't have the power as human beings to "Control Life, but We can Control the Gifts of Life to Help Others."
Thanks for your concern and writing about this story.
Sgt. Robert L. Starnes
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office
600 Market Street
Chattanooga
* * *
Sgt. Starnes, I am so very sorry for the loss of your precious daughter. I know that as painful as her death must have been for you, you must find great comfort that she was able to help so many people.
I, too, lost someone very close to me on March 19, 2008, and like Jessie Anna, her legacy is living on. My best friend passed away that day when she was murdered in Knoxville. But she lives on through the ones that loved her, and through people who never were lucky enough to know her, just as your daughter is living on also.
I am so terribly sorry for your loss.
Aubrey Buchannon
Chattanooga
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