'I have a whole life left to live'; Recipients share how organ donations change, save lives

Apr. 24—FARRELL — As the wife of an organ donor and a liver recipient herself, Dawn Sirkoch understands the importance of organ donations — and the potential to change or even save people's lives.

A resident of Center Township, Beaver County, Sirkoch had a chance to share her story Wednesday morning at UPMC Horizon in Farrell.

"It's something that can truly help so many people," Sirkoch said of organ donations.

For Dawn, her involvement with organ donations began with her late husband, Jeff Sirkoch, who passed away at age 54 on Dec. 5, 2021.

Jeff and Dawn had discussed Jeff's willingness to donate his organs in the years before he died, so Dawn was already familiar with the concept when she was contacted by representatives with CORE, or the Center for Organ Recovery and Education.

"He was a very generous person, and we had talked about it beforehand," Dawn said of her husband.

Jeff's donations included three heart valves — two of which have helped people so far — and tissue donations, which have since helped 349 people.

"It's been years since he passed, but I still miss him. That pain will never go away, but at least I can see how many people my husband has helped since then," Dawn said.

"One man received a cornea donation right after Jeff passed, and that donation saved his eyesight."

While her husband's donation showed how far-reaching an organ donor's kindness can be, Dawn later learned for herself how impactful receiving an organ donation can be.

About five months after Jeff's death, Dawn began feeling ill and experienced other symptoms that eventually turned out to be end-stage liver disease, which was diagnosed in May 2022.

Despite enduring plenty of hardships throughout the ordeal, including relearning how to walk and undergoing dialysis, Dawn said she was determined to pull through for her children.

"We were still heartbroken over the loss of my husband, and I was not going to leave my children without their parents," Dawn said.

Dawn was eventually recommended for a liver surgery and sent home from the hospital on June 7, 2023.

Though she expected a potentially long waiting period, Dawn was contacted only a few days later by the hospital on June 9 and told a donor had been found — allowing her to undergo the transplant on June 10.

"I remember getting the phone call, it was 2:22 a.m.," Dawn said. "We headed out to the hospital very early that morning."

There were still difficulties recuperating from the procedure, and while there could still be issues with her kidneys, Dawn is no longer on dialysis and said she is able to enjoy some of her favorite hobbies, such as cooking.

And she is still there for her three sons, including one pursuing a doctorate at the School of Columbia University in New York City, one who works as a video game designer in Nashville, Tenn., and one pursuing dual degrees in music and video game design from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

"We're supposed to get together in May, so I hope we're all able to make it," Dawn said.

Dawn also hopes to eventually meet the family of the organ donor that provided her a new liver and made much of her recovery possible.

"I did write the family a letter, but they had just lost someone very important to them and they're likely still mourning, so if I don't hear back for a while or if they decide not to, then I understand," Dawn said.

When it comes to sharing her story, Dawn, who said she will be an organ donor when the time comes, hopes to teach people not only the importance of organ donations, but to dispel some of the misinformation out there, especially on the internet.

Dawn herself had seen places online claiming people only survive three to five years post-transplant, whereas the reality can be decades for organ recipients, she said.

"It can be 30 or 40 years," Dawn said. "I have a whole life left to live post-transplant."

The ceremony Wednesday morning where Dawn shared her experiences celebrated National Donate Life Month, which is observed each April by Donate Life America.

After the speakers were finished addressing those present, the Donate Life flag was raised outside UPMC Horizon hospital in Farrell.

CORE President and CEO Susan Stuart said in a press release that collaborations between CORE and hospitals in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia have resulted in more than 900 life-saving organ transplants in 2023.

"But, above all, this month is a tribute to the selfless donors and their families whose generous decision to give the gift of life has brought hope and healing to those close to home and far away," Stuart said in the release.

Like David L. Dye on Facebook or email him at .

Like David L. Dye on Facebook or email him at ddye@sharonherald.com.