A couple from Oklahoma City, Keri and Royce Young, said goodbye to their newborn daughter the same day she was born, as the baby had no brain. When the couple found out that their daughter was to be born without a brain, Keri decided to carry out her entire pregnancy so they could donate the baby’s organs.
Royce posted the heartbreaking story in February, and Eva, the little girl, was born on April 17. They said farewell to the newborn, and her organs were donated. Royce’s post went viral, and the couple received thousands of messages of support, as the story has earned the compassion of people around the world and has been shared more than 23,000 times.
The couple decided to donate Eva’s organs to needing babies
Royce’s post details his feelings when learning that their baby was going to die inevitably, and his shock and respect for his wife’s reaction to terminate the pregnancy to help other babies. He recalls finding out that Eva wasn’t perfect, and how his wife, after 30 seconds of full body ugly crying, looked up at the doctor and asked her if she carried her full term would they be able to donate her organs.
“I remembered our doctor putting her hand on Keri’s shoulder and saying, ‘Oh honey, that’s so brave of you to say,’” wrote Royce on the Facebook post. “There I was, crestfallen and heartbroken, but I momentarily got lifted out of the moment and just stood in awe of her. I was a spectator to my own life, watching a superhero find her superpowers.”
It took Keri less than a minute to think of someone else in need and how selflessness could help others. The couple has been together for 15 years, and they’ve been married for 8, and Royce writes that that moment led him to realize that his wife wasn’t just his best friend, but also a remarkable, special human being.
The process was difficult for the couple, who also have a son named Harrison. He details that his wife went through a normal pregnancy, with backaches and sore feet. Keri also has to endure the pregnancy recovery without the joy of a beautiful newborn to remind her that it was all worth it, he wrote.
‘It Takes Lives To Save Lives’
The couple decided to carry Eva to full term for several reasons, but first and foremost to donate her organs. He stretches that he didn’t share Eva’s story to sound like great people, but because Eva gave them a purpose to continue. Royce recalls that in that time he met Jarrius, an awesome kid who needed a liver transplant, and whose story resonated deep within him.
“That kid Jarrius wears a shirt that says ‘It Takes Lives To Save Lives’. I couldn’t stop thinking about that all day,” wrote Royce. “There’s another family out there hurting and hoping for a miracle for their baby, knowing full well someone else’s baby will need to die first. Eva can be that miracle.”
Keri posted a family photo with their daughter and their son Harrison. She added that it wasn’t a sad post. Royce ended his post saying that Keri is a remarkable and spectacular woman and that he needed to tell everyone else about it.