In 1995, after Michael McVey suffered a severe head trauma, at the insistence of his mother Susan Dillon, he became the first “donor after cardiac death” recovered by the Gift of Life Donor Program. In 2004, Susan was asked to join the faculty of the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative, a national effort to increase organ donation rates. A voice for the increasingly common donation after cardiac death, Susan said, “Michael’s story has impacted thousands of people.”

Susan's Story

In 1995, Susan Dillon’s son, Michael McVey, suffered a severe head trauma. During that long weekend, many decisions had to be made, but organ donation was by far the easiest for Susan and her daughter, Janette.

“We had talked about it as a family when Janette got her driver’s license, so we knew it was what Michael wanted,” said Susan. “We knew that if the only thing Michael needed to come home was a kidney, we would expect one to be available. So we felt that we had to be willing to give one.”

Michael was the first donation after cardiac death (DCD) donor for Philadelphia’s Gift of Life Donor Program. Michael provided five “miracles”: his liver and both kidneys were perfect matches for recipients in need of a life-saving transplant. His corneas gave back sight to a college student. Husbands returned home to their wives and families, sons returned home to their mothers. Susan noted, “Organ donation does not just save a person. It saves families.”

Both Susan and Janette volunteer with Gift of Life promoting organ donation. Through the Gift of Life Speakers Bureau, Susan has spoken at numerous hospitals, civic organizations and schools, as well as at the National Youth Leadership Forum for Medicine at Villanova University. In 2004, she was asked to join the faculty of the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative, a national effort created by former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson to raise organ donation rates in order to save the lives of patients on the transplant waiting list. For three years, she shared her story of donation after cardiac death with thousands of healthcare professionals across the country.

“Because of my involvement with the Collaborative, many hospitals and organ procurement organizations have adopted or changed their DCD policies,” said Susan. “Working with the Collaborative and Gift of Life sharing our story has been a very rewarding experience. I have seen that one person can make a difference. Michael’s story has impacted thousands of people, and Gift of Life has helped many families to make the right decision to give the gift of life.

“My daughter and I have attended the biannual NKF Transplant Games since 1998. The Games provide a venue where I can meet people just like me. We share our stories, we laugh, we cry and we all understand. The Games reconfirm that we made the right decision in donating Michael’s organs.”

In 2007, Susan, a 57-year old teacher, was honored with the James S. Wolf Courage Award, given by Donate Life America to recognize individuals who have played a significant national role in educating the public about organ and tissue donation.

“It brings me great peace to know that Michael is still helping families 13 years after his death,” said Susan.