EDINBURG — “She is our hero.”
So said Genevieve Vargas, reflecting on the murder of her daughter in June 2020 and her child’s decision to be an organ donor. That decision led to Vargas’ daughter, 18-year-old Alysha Rene Garza, saving more than one life.
Alysha’s legacy as an organ donor was honored by South Texas Health System in Edinburg during a flag-raising ceremony held Thursday in observance of National Donate Life Month.
During the event, two guest speakers addressed the crowd and spoke about their experiences. Vargas, Alysha’s mother, was one such speaker whose story moved attendees to tears.
Vargas attended the event with her 11-year-old daughter Alexandra and her 17-year-old niece Yahaira. Each of them wore shirts with Alysha’s photo and the words “Justice for Alysha” printed across the shirt.
She explained her daughter was on life support for two days before she and her family decided to sign off on organ donation to honor Alysha’s wishes.
According to Vargas, her daughter donated everything she could including skin, tissue, eyes and other organs. After her death, six of Alysha’s organs were donated to five people: her right kidney went to a 41-year-old man; her left kidney and pancreas went to a 43-year-old man; her liver went to a 46-year-old man; her heart went to a 40-year-old woman and her right lung went to a 70-year-old man.
“Out of our tragedy came this blessing, that we helped give other people the gift of life,” Vargas said with a trembling voice and watery eyes. “It’s a very sentimental feeling for me but I’m very proud of her.”
Alysha was 16 years old when she decided she wanted to be an organ donor. In fact, about a year before she died she had a conversation with her siblings explaining that she wanted to donate her organs if anything ever happened to her.
“I know she’s in heaven just rejoicing because this is something she wanted,” Vargas said.
“Out of our tragedy came this blessing, that we helped give other people the gift of life,” Vargas said with a trembling voice and watery eyes. “It’s a very sentimental feeling for me but I’m very proud of her.”
After her daughter’s donation, Vargas and her family signed up to be organ donors as well. They now attend events that raise awareness for organ donation and its impact.
“I’m going through trial right now and the trial is so hard but I have peace knowing that she helped other people,” Vargas said. “My daughter still lives on out there.”
According to organdonor.gov, there are currently 104,234 people on the national transplant waiting list with 17 people dying each day waiting for a transplant.
An organ donor can have a large impact on the lives of others; in fact, the statistics also explain that one donor can save up to eight lives and enhance over 75 other lives.
Fifteen-year-old Logan Flores is among the recipients who have been impacted by organ donation, after receiving a kidney transplant at just 18 months old.
According to Jessica Sargent Flores, Logan’s mom, he was born with renal failure and had to undergo dialysis at 4-months-old. She explained that he continued dialysis for 13 months until Sept. 4, 2009, when she received a call that there was a kidney available for her son.
“Even though he was the cutest baby he wasn’t healthy by any means,” Jessica explained, adding due to his condition his skin was a light gray color.
She added that after he received the transplant there were immediate differences in her son’s health. Now after almost 15 years since the transplant, Logan has remained healthy and even participates in various extracurricular activities such as drumming, Boy Scouts and youth group.
“Because of his donor, because someone donated a kidney to him, he is able to live and we are so grateful,” Jessica said with tears in her eyes.
Organ donations hold special significance for Logan.
“It feels good to know that people are donating. Since I was a recipient, it feels like we should donate to other people since someone donated to me,” Logan said.
