2018 Brooke Elizabeth Dawkins
Brooke Elizabeth Dawkins
Organ and cornea donor
Age 19 – Orlando, FL
Donated on 03/06/2014
at Orlando Regional Medical Center
Honored by TransLife
Brooke had an amazing smile, a loud contagious laugh, a profound love for others, and life that brought joy to all who met her. She was voted homecoming queen of her high school and won a State Championship with her cheer team. She maintained a 3.7 GPA at the University of Central Florida and was a sister of Kappa Delta Sorority.
After Brooke was struck by a vehicle while crossing a road near campus, her family honored her wish to be an organ donor, donating her heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and corneas. Brooke’s family learned after her passing that she had given a presentation for school the prior semester on the importance of organ donation titled, “Have a Heart, Give a Heart.” They have also met two of Brooke’s organ recipients.
Brooke’s Story
Brooke had an amazing smile, a loud contagious laugh, a profound love for others, and life that brought joy to all who met her. She was voted homecoming queen of her high school and won a State Championship with her cheer team. She maintained a 3.7 GPA at the University of Central Florida and was a sister of Kappa Delta Sorority.
After Brooke was struck by a vehicle while crossing a road near campus, her family honored her wish to be an organ donor, donating her heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and corneas. Brooke’s family learned after her passing that she had given a presentation for school the prior semester on the importance of organ donation titled, “Have a Heart, Give a Heart.”
Brooke’s family was blessed to meet the recipient of her heart and the recipient of her pancreas and a kidney. The now connected families are very close and although separated by thousands of miles, visit each other regularly. The powerful and moving video of the first meeting with her heart recipient was seen nationwide. In an eternal tribute to Brooke, her family and friends established the Brookestrong Foundation to help share the importance of organ donation.