‘A part of my daughter lives inside him’: Heart donation turns sorrow into joy
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This story is brought to you by DonorConnect, which acts as the bridge between organ, tissue and eye donors, and transplant recipients. We serve those in Utah, southeastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and Elko, Nevada. Through the generosity of donors and their families, coupled with the expertise of our dedicated staff, we create a lasting ripple effect of hope and healing.
“If there’s anything I can do in this life to turn tragedy and sorrow and loss into joy and hope and life, I want to be a part of that. And that’s what (organ, tissue and eye) donation does,” said Dr. David Hooper with the Primary Children’s Transplant Program.
One woman, Whitney Hale, experienced this firsthand when her 3-year-old daughter, Tayzli, fell off her horse in 2017. She was taken to Primary Children’s Hospital, where they did everything to save her. But they soon learned that Tayzli would not wake up.
“That was, like the worst news a mom could ever hear, is that their child will not wake up and never dance again or be themselves again,” Whitney said. “And I never want any other parent to feel that pain.”
With that in mind, the Hale family asked if Tayzli could become an organ, tissue, and eye donor.
At the same time, 2-year-old Dylan Martins was struggling. His heart was failing, and it was hard to even breathe or move.
Soon, a match was found. Dylan received a heart transplant at Primary Children’s that saved his life. This heart was Tayzli’s.
“I just knew that (becoming a donor) was the best legacy I could give her — to give hope and love to somebody else,” Whitney said. “Dylan wouldn’t be here today if Tayzli didn’t donate her heart.”
Thanks to Tayzli’s gift, Dylan is alive today. He can breathe better and play the sports that he loves. Dylan and Whitney soon got the chance to meet, and they’ve been close ever since.
To thank Primary Children’s, the two handed out Donate Life cookies and swag to all the health care professionals who help kids like Dylan and Tayzli.
“A part of my daughter lives inside him. And he’s my family now, and his family is my family,” Whitney said. “And it’s important to me that he knows how much I love them and appreciate them and that they keep my little girl’s spirit alive.”