2017 Brooke Sarrazin

BROOKE SARRAZIN

Tissue Recipient

Age 23 ~ Poquoson, VA

Student

Honored by Medtronic at medtronic.com

Brooke Sarrazin has played elite competitive softball throughout her entire life. She started noticing pain in her lower back, which turned out to be spondylolisthesis, during the eighth grade. Brooke continued to push through the pain until her numb legs caused her to collapse on the field. After the momentary paralysis, Brooke went through spinal fusion surgery which required donor tissue to aid in the fusion which allowed her to achieve a full recovery. With returning to normal life, Brooke has decided to pursue a career in healthcare in order to help others the way she has been helped. The gift of donation has given her the strength and passion to help change the lives of others.

Brooke’s Story

Throughout my entire life, I have played elite level competitive softball. When I reached the eighth grade, I started noticing pain in my lower back. Upon further examination, doctors found that I was born with spondylolisthesis – the sliding of one vertebra over another – in my lumbar spine. Because of my love for the game of softball, I decided to keep playing and went as far as my junior year of college. I continued to push through the pain until I finally reached my breaking point when while playing, my legs became numb causing me to collapse on the field.

After the momentary paralysis of my lower half due to my condition, I decided to seek treatment and go through with spinal fusion surgery. During the procedure, my surgeon encountered much more than what he had expected, resulting in me requiring donor tissue to aid in the fusion of my spine, and allowing me to achieve full recovery.

Because of the impact the gift of tissue donation has had on my recovery and return to a normal life, I have developed a strong appreciation for those who have selflessly chosen to give, as well as those who are tasked as stewards of that gift. As a result, I have decided to pursue a career in healthcare in order to help others the way that I have been helped. My life was changed drastically because of the gift of donation, and that has given me the strength and passion to help change the lives of others.