Hero Walk Honors 8-Year-Old Organ Donor Who Clung To Life For Weeks

WOODBRIDGE, VA — There was no shortage of tears at Fairfax Hospital on Friday morning. Community members braved the rain to support the honor walk for 8-year-old Jordynn Manning before her organ donation.

Jordynn suffered severe injuries on April 10 when she was hit by a car while playing in front of her house in Woodbridge. For weeks, she has clung to life.

This week, doctors determined Jordynn had suffered severe brain damage from a lack of oxygen. Her family made the difficult decision to donate her organs to those in need.

Friends, family, teachers and hospital staff honored Jordynn at the honor walk at Fairfax Hospital on Friday morning as doctors took her to the operating room.

Dozens of supporters lined the hospital's hallway for Jordynn, shedding tears, sharing tissues, and holding hands.

Jordynn had a stuffed animal with her as teary-eyed doctors wheeled her to the operating room. She was surrounded by her family.

On Friday evening, Jordynn's family told Patch that she was still clinging to life. Doctors are waiting for Jordynn to die naturally before donating her tissues and other organs.

"We are just waiting by her bedside until that happens," Jordynn's aunt Chelsy Manning told Patch. "We don't have a timeframe on when that will be. Our Jordynn is a fighter."

Jordynn died on Saturday morning.

After the walk, hospital staff raised a new flag in front of the hospital in Jordynn's honor. The flag encourages people to "donate life" by becoming an organ donor.

A hospital staff member told Patch that Jordan's honor walk garnered an exceptional amount of support.

A GoFundMe for Jordynn has raised nearly $60,000 in just over two weeks. The funds, which were originally going to support Jordynn's medical costs, will now cover her funeral bill. The family is no longer accepting donations.

Related:

• 'It's Amazing:' $41K Raised For Family Of Woodbridge Girl Hit By Car
• Child Hit By Vehicle Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries: Police

Crystal Miller is a family friend who organized the fundraiser for Jordynn and her family.

"Jordynn, sweet girl, we love you so incredibly much, and you will live on in all of us forever," Miller wrote on Wednesday.

In Wednesday's update, Miller also included a verse from the Bible, Matthew 19:14.

"Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

The scene at Fairfax Hospital on Friday morning was bittersweet. The rain, which continued throughout the morning, was fitting.

Many of Jordynn's supporters lamented the tragedy and remembered the kind, friendly, and outgoing girl.

"She's an amazing kid," Chelsy Manning told Patch earlier this month.

Still, Jordynn's loved ones chose to recognize the positives on Friday morning. Her organs could save lives, they noted.

At Jordynn's hero walk, supporters received green "Donate Life" wristbands, which encouraged organ donation and awareness. The Health Resources and Services Administration says that one organ donorcan save eight lives and enhance 75 more.

Anyone can become an organ donor in Virginia. Organ donors are marked with a heart on their Virginia driver's license. More information about organ donation is available on Donate Life Virginia's website.