2019 Shayna Sturtevant

Name:                                     Shayna Sturtevant

Type of Donation:             Organ, tissue and cornea donor

Age and Location:             Age 21 – Fruitport, MI

Donation Date:                   9/7/2016

Sponsor:                                Honored by Gift of Life Michigan

SHAYNA’S STORY

Shayna’s story about giving the gifts of life began at 18 when we went to get her driver’s license. I asked her if she was going to add a heart to her license and explained about organ donation. Her words were “Wow! Wouldn’t it be amazing to save a life?”

Three years later, just after turning 21, Shayna did just that after an ear infection abscessed to her brain. On Sept. 14, 2016, Shayna became a hero to so many people.

Her lungs went to a man with nine children, allowing those kids to have their father in their lives.

A 36-year-old woman has a second chance at life after receiving Shayna’s liver and one kidney.

A 21-year-old young woman now has a future with Shayna’s pancreas and kidney.

She also donated tissue and corneas, helping more than 75 people live better lives.

And – amazingly – because of Shayna, a woman in Ohio can now feed and care for herself and hold and touch the ones she loves because Shayna became Michigan’s first hand donor.

Shayna had the most beautiful smile and her eyes were sky blue. She was stubborn but with the heart of gold. She loved her family and friends with all that she was, and she was obsessed with Batman and the color purple.

Most importantly, Shayna was a mother to a beautiful boy named Oliver and she loved him with all her heart. She only had 14 months with Ollie, but she put a lifetime of love into those months. She worked hard at her job at a local restaurant to make a life for her little family and was looking forward to marrying Ollie’s daddy – her best friend.

Losing Shayna is the worst pain we will have to live through. Knowing that so many people are able to hold their loved ones every day because of the gift’s Shayna gave brings us peace and a little joy to our lives.

Those families got their miracles from Shayna Nichole Sturtevant, a hero for eternity. She will live forever in our hearts.