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Organ Donors Trey Lefler
It's the ultimate gift given by a young Tennessean. A beloved man with a bright future who lost his life way too early. He made a decision just months before his untimely death that would save the lives of five other people.
By all accounts, 25 year old Jack Heatherly "Trey" Lefler the Third was kind and smart.
A campaign staffer for U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, he was close to his family, an accomplished athlete and loved Halloween.
"He truly followed the second commandment, he truly loved his neighbor as himself. It was that loving generous spirit that most defined trey."
His sister Laura, press secretary for U.S. Senator Bob Corker, says her little brother was larger than life.
"Trey was handsome, he was articulate, he was bright, he had a magnetic personality. So many people have described him as he lit up every room he was in."
But tragedy struck on November 19th, the Monday before Thanksgiving in Maryville.
Trey, in town on business, was driving with two friends. They lost control on a back road on the Maryville College campus and hit a tree head on. The police report states no one was wearing seatbelts. Trey was ejected. The driver was killed. Trey and a third passenger were rushed to the hospital. Trey lost his fight for life thanksgiving day.
"Our Thanksgiving became an Easter and in these hours of darkness and despair I can say the organ donation provided a great light."
Trey Lefler became an organ donor just six months before his death when he renewed his drivers license.
"I believe Trey's spirit is in heaven. Parts of his body is here living on in other people. Trey's story doesn’t end, that’s a powerful legacy ..life is a gift .. Trey's life was an incredible gift to me and everyone who knew him .. And it continues to be a gift because of his donation."
Under ideal conditions one person can donate up to eight organs. The average donor gives three. Trey was somewhere in the middle. He saved five lives.
Trey's heart went to a single 46 year old woman with a teenage daughter. His lungs to a 36 year old single man. His right kidney and pancreas to a 43 year old single mother. His left kidney to a 62 year old physician, married with four children. And Trey's liver to a 56 year old woman married 28 years, with two daughters.
Those gifts of life are something some 98,000 Americans are on the waiting list for - More than 2,000 in Tennessee alone. The problem, there are far fewer people who donate their organs than meets the need. In fact, only 22 percent of all Tennesseans are registered as organ donors.
"17 people a day pass away while on the waiting list while another 37 to 40 people are added to the list. So we're constantly playing the catch up game."
It's hoped a new online registry will increase that number. Janet Jarrard with Tennessee Donor Services says other states that have started similar registries have seen as much as a 50 percent increase in donors. Donors like Trey Lefler who gave the gift of life five times over.
To register online to become a donor just click on Fox Links on the left side of the home page and look for Organ Donation. Or, you can also still register when you renew your driver's license.
Senator Lamar Alexander says "Trey gave the gift of life to five different people providing hope to them and to their families as well as a valuable lesson for each one of us."
Tomorrow night at 9, we’ll have one woman's very personal reason for working with Tennessee Donor Services. One of the lives she hopes to save could be yours.
Organ Donors Trey Lefler
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