A special education teacher, Jackie Dennis, who received a life-saving double lung transplant, recently guided her class in creating comfort blankets for families of organ donors. Dennis expressed that while the donation brought her immense joy, gratitude, and relief, allowing her to watch her daughter grow up, she was also deeply aware of the profound loss it represented for another family.
In 2020, during the pandemic, Dennis’s health rapidly declined after giving birth, leading to her being placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant. The successful surgery, a first for Henry Ford Health at the time, allowed her to form a meaningful connection with the donor’s family. Over time, she has been able to share updates about her life, including photos of her daughter and students, showcasing the impact of the donor’s gift.
Dennis organized a workshop at Huron High School in New Boston, Michigan, where she and her students made blankets to send to donor families. She noted that many donor families do not have direct contact with recipients, and these blankets serve as a symbol of warmth and gratitude, helping to bridge that gap. Dennis hopes that these gestures can inspire others to form similar connections, fostering a sense of community and appreciation among those touched by organ donation.