Mom Forms Unbreakable Bond With Her Son's Heart Recipient
By Christian Lail • October 16, 2018
The mother is Tiki Finlayson of Tennessee. Her son Kevin – nicknamed "Sunshine" – Yates died at the age of 25 when a drunk driver crashed head-on into his minivan. Tiki decided to honor him by donating his heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas, bones and tissue – saving 4 lives and healing many more. One of the people saved was Melvin Ellis, a minister in Alabama, who was brought back to life when he received Sunshine's heart. She actually received the thank you letter from Melvin on her Sunshine's birthday—and describes it as the best present she could have ever received.
She illustrated beautifully meeting Melvin for the first time: "As I was listening to my son's heartbeat through Melvin's chest, I thought, Wow… Kevin really is a super hero. I had never been more proud of him then I was in that moment."
Tiki and Melvin have joined a national campaign called #BeTheGift – a completely fresh and fun way to encourage more organ and tissue donation. For reasons I don't have to explain, organ and tissue donation is not a subject on everyone's lips. People generally avoid the subject of death, which means they also avoid the subject of donation.
The facts are compelling: Today, 115,000 Americans are waiting for life-saving organs; 20 of them die every day, still waiting. Meanwhile, more than 90 percent of Americans say they believe in donation but only 54% are actually registered. People just don't realize that you can register online and how easy the process is.
Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz
Couple Rescues Prairie Dog From Their Dog's Mouth, Then Decides To Adopt It
My Girlfriend Gifted Me My Father’s Handwriting To Keep Forever
We Can’t Stop Looking At These Adorable Baby Loon Photos Taken On A Lake
This Couple Built A Grass Patch For Their Cat, And She’s Obsessed With It
This All-Black ‘Goth House’ In Indiana Is Going Viral. Wait Until You See The Inside
Meet Igor: The Fluffy Poltergeist Dog With The Most Unhinged Adoption Bio Ever
Baby Elephant’s Trunk Steals The Show In Adorable Treat Time Video
What Happens When A Man With A Hose Meets A Group of Kids? Pure Magic
Chicken Or Pigeon? The Internet Can’t Believe This Bird Is Real
Mom Surprises 4-Year-Old Son With First Apartment After 14 Months In Homeless Shelter
Bear Vs. Sprinkler: Hilarious Garden Moment Caught On Camera