Woman seeks family of organ donor who saved her grandmother’s life decades ago

LSU mass communication graduate student Danielle Kelley browses on her laptop on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2016, in the Journalism Building. She is responsible for building an organ transplant database in her search to find the Chattanooga family whose deceased relative donated organs to Danielle's grandmother. LSU mass communication graduate student Danielle Kelley browses on her laptop on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2016, in the Journalism Building. She is responsible for building an organ transplant database in her search to find the Chattanooga family whose deceased relative donated organs to Danielle's grandmother.

By Steve Johnson September 28, 2016 8 min read

Photo Gallery

Young woman searching for Chattanooga donor who saved her grandmother’s life

Debbie Newman holds granddaughter Danielle Kelley in 1994.

Debbie Newman's first journal entry (Jan. 1, 1988) since her transplant (Sept. 21, 1987).

Debbie is finally able to return home for good on March 25, 1988. The town and local news welcomed her home with crowds and signs.

LSU mass communication graduate student Danielle Kelley is responsible for building an organ transplant database in her search to find the Chattanooga family whose deceased relative donated organs to Danielle's grandmother.

LSU mass communication graduate student Danielle Kelley pulls up a photo of her grandmother on her laptop on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2016, in the Journalism Building. She is responsible for building an organ transplant database in her search to find the Chattanooga family whose deceased relative donated organs to Danielle's grandmother.

A letter to the family

Dear, sweet family. Dear, sweet mom and dad. Dear, sweet brother and sister. Dear, cousin and grandparent and uncle and aunt and friend. I never would have met my grandmother if it weren’t for your boy.I want to catch you up on Debbie’s life. She was a young wife and mother of three at the time of the life-saving transplant. She not only survived the transplant, but she lived. She lived to see all three of her daughters graduate grow up and drive and go to prom and graduate high school and all those other milestones. She lived to see the birth of her first grandchild (me). She lived to love her husband. She lived to go to church. She lived to have fun. She lived.She passed away 10 days before my 13th birthday. But thanks to your decision, I loved her for 13 wonderful years. I can see her now, laughing and playing Twister and falling down without fear on Christmas morning with our family. I can see her now, in the kitchen frying squash. I can see her now, bent over her garden and planting gladiola bulbs in beautiful spring sunlight. I can see her now, behind the camcorder filming playful moments with her cocker spaniel, Tibby. I can see her now, looking me in the eye and telling me how much she loves me.Dear, sweet, wonderful, generous and kind family. Thank you for the gift of life. My family is forever grateful. Your son died 29 years ago on or right before Sept. 21, 1987 in the Chattanooga area. I would like to see you face to face. I would like to show you pictures of my grandmother after the transplant. I would like to cook you some of her recipes. I would like to tell you stories. I would like to hear yours.I would like to say thank you.If you think you match this description, and you would like to meet me too, please email me at organconnections@gmail.com. I hope to talk to you soon.Forever Thankful,Danielle KelleyGranddaughter of Debbie Newman

Online

Check out Kelley’s donor search website at OrganConnections.com.

Twenty-nine years ago this week, on what must have been a very sad day, a Chattanooga family made a decision that would profoundly change the life of a young Louisiana girl who had not yet even been born.

And now, that Louisiana girl, 23, would like to say thanks.

If she can only find her benefactors.