An Oregon woman who died less than a week after giving birth to her fourth child has saved the lives of 12 people by donating her organs, successfully fulfilling her dying wish, Good Morning America reported.
On December 29, Kathleen Thorson and her husband, Jesse, welcomed their fourth child, a boy named Teddy.
Less than one week later, on January 3, the mother-of-four was rushed to the emergency room after suffering an intracerebral hemorrhage, or bleeding in her brain.
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Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, doctors were unable to save her, and Kathleen passed away just a few days later at the age of 34, leaving behind Jesse and their children Danny, Gracie, James, and newborn Teddy.
Before she died, she told Jesse she wished for her organs to be donated to save others, a wish which doctors set about fulfilling.
According to a GoFundMe campaign set up by family friend Richard Stubbs to support Jesse and their four children, 12 of Kathleen’s organs have been donated, including her heart and lungs.
“The nurse told Jesse the chances that someone is a candidate of this magnitude is less than one in a million,” Stubbs wrote online. “But anyone who knew Kathleen already knew that.”
Although the entire family is grieving, Jesse said his wife’s incredible organ donations have provided some positivity amid the immense tragedy.
“I’m glad my kids will know their mom for doing that,” he told Good Morning America . “My 7-year-old told his first grade class his mom has ‘helped people’.”
He added that learning more about the process and the recipients of his wife’s organs is “something that will be continually lifting us.”
Jesse and Kathleen met on the first day of high school.
“I was a junior,” Jesse recalled to GMA. “I put my foot in my mouth, and we’ve been together ever since.”
The high school sweethearts married on September 1, 2006.
After their first son, Danny, was born, Kathleen expressed interest in becoming a stay-at-home mom for her family.
“When our son Danny was born [six weeks premature], she asked if it was OK if she was ‘just a mom,” Jesse explained.
“I said, ‘Absolutely.’ That’s when I decided to become to a nurse. She wanted to be at home with her kids. That was her chosen career.”
Jesse said his wife loved nature, baking pies, and was incredibly accepting of everyone around her.
“I don’t know if she ever met someone she couldn’t find a way to love and care about,” he told GMA. “Her heart was wide open. Her heart and her kindness and her willingness to love, I’m making sure that’s in every crack of my home and learning how to do all the things that she did while I was at work.”
“We never spent a minute apart,” he continued. “We had 14 years and used every minute of it… there are no regrets of how we spent the time, just about the amount of time we had.”
Actress Kristen Bell recently heard about Kathleen’s story, and highlighted the family in her company HelloBello’s weekly Tuesday of Giving.
The company also awarded the grieving family with a year’s supply of wipes and diapers.
“Before she passed earlier this month, Kathleen said she wanted to save as many lives as possible and donated an almost unheard of 12 organs, including her heart and lungs,” Bell wrote in an Instagram post to honor the late mom. “Jesse — our thoughts are with your family during this unimaginably difficult time. Sending peace and love your way.”
As of writing, the family’s GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $125,000, well over its initial goal of $50,000.
The funds will go towards covering the family’s medical costs, funeral expenses, and to compensate for Jesse’s lost wages. Extra money raised will go towards fulfilling another one of Kathleen’s dreams — building a garden for her children.
“This was to be a space that Kathleen could teach her children about her love of gardening, invite friends over for fun events, and live her ‘hobbit’ dreams,” Stubbs wrote.
He also shared a smiling photo of the late mom and encouraged others to “be a little more like Kathleen.”
“Look for the hand of God in your life every day,” Stubbs wrote. “Love people. Cook them tasty food. Enjoy the beauty of your ordinary life. Go on adventures. Read poetry. Take calming baths. Wear soft clothes. Sing. Grow things. Grow people. Grow dreams. Find out who you are and be the best You that you can be.”
h/t: Good Morning America , GoFundMe
