Hillcrest High School Students Learn from Organ Recipients

Instead of lecturing her students about becoming organ donors, Hillcrest High School Drivers Education Teacher Amy Trench wanted to find a way to connect. She reached out to Oak Forest High School Alum Dan Lietz who is the Regional Coordinator and Fiscal Officer of the State's Organ/Tissue Donor Program.

Lietz visited drivers education classes at Hillcrest High School throughout the day on December 2nd and 3rd, but he didn't come alone. He brought not one, but two, organ donor recipients with him to speak with students.

The opportunity presented itself through the Life Goes On Organ Donation Program that is run through the Illinois Secretary of State's Office.

Phillip Hanks and Daru Smith aren't your everyday donor recipients though.

Smith received a triple organ transplant (heart, lung, kidney) in December of 2018. He was the 15th person in the world to receive this triple transplant. Hanks received five organs in April of 2021 which included a liver, kidney, pancreas, intestines, and stomach. He is the first person in the world to receive five organs.

Smith and Hanks shared their personal stories with the students and answered a wide variety of questions.

Students wondered about changes such as interests or food preferences that individuals experience after receiving a new organ.

Hanks commented that his taste buds had changed. Before his transplant, he wouldn't be able to stomach spicey food but now he says he enjoys foods with a kick.

Students were also curious about the organ donation process.

Hanks explained that there is a lot more to organ donation than people think. He told students that recipients have to be similar in weight, height, and have the same blood type to receive organs from donors. He also said that there's a large amount of physical therapy that recipients must perform in order to make sure they are healthy enough to receive the organ.

Both Hanks and Smith shared their appreciation for organ donors and the Life Goes on Program.

"My goal of being a part of this program is to show people the brighter side of organ donation," said Smith."If you have a blessing that you can no longer use, why not pass it on to the next person?

Lietz, who ended the program, reminded students, "Without donors, these recipients wouldn't be here to speak with you today."

To learn more about organ donation and the Life Goes on Program, visit https://www.lifegoeson.com/