Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc®

Jennifer’s mother, Deborah, was a double lung recipient and Soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Deborah was a nurse practitioner on the national transplant waiting list for two years before receiving her lifesaving gifts. Since she was a petite woman, she was able to receive her lifesaving gifts from an 11-year-old boy. Jennifer’s mom and the whole family were so grateful to the boy’s family for saying “yes” to donation.

Jennifer’s mom was able to enjoy life for 5 years, 1 month and 11 days after her transplant. Today, she’s honored at the Mid-America Transplant Donor Memorial Monument in St. Louis, where the family also participates in the annual lung walk in her honor.

Although her mother passed away before she could see Jennifer join AKA, Jennifer is a proud supporter of organ donation and is forever grateful for the opportunity to have extended time with her mother thanks to the generosity of her donor hero, a young boy.

While at church ten years ago, Davina met a young man who was an organ recipient. His testimony so moved her that she committed herself to spread awareness of organ, eye and tissue donation. She also said “yes” to donation the next time she renewed her driver’s license. She told us she had been saying “no” to donation, and this young man’s testimony truly changed her whole outlook.

As an educator, Davina uses her platform to teach her students about the benefits of organ donation and helps raise awareness among communities of color.