Earlier this month, the Student Organ Donation Association (SODA) at Troy University held its inaugural meeting, featuring two inspiring guest speakers: Rachel Garrett and Quincy Miller. The event aimed to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation and educate students on how they can make a difference.
Rachel Garrett’s Journey of Compassion
Rachel Garrett, a TROY alumna from the School of Social Work and Human Services, shared her heartfelt story of becoming a kidney donor. After seeing a social media post from her friend Candice, who was in desperate need of a kidney donor, Garrett reached out and began the journey to help Candice.
“This is not my story, but more of a chapter of Candice’s journey to getting a new kidney,” Garrett said.
Garrett participated in a voucher program, which allowed her to donate her kidney to someone else, thereby securing a priority spot for Candice on the transplant list. The entire process took about four months, involving constant blood work and medical check-ups. Although Garrett has not heard from the recipient of her kidney, she hopes they are thriving and doing well.
Garrett emphasized the importance of educating others about organ donation and expressed her desire to advocate for policy changes to protect donors.
Quincey Miller’s Triumph Over Adversity
Quincey Miller, an ex-TROY football player and engineering student, shared his personal experience with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a kidney disease that scars the filters in the kidneys. Diagnosed at 19, Miller’s condition left his kidneys functioning at only 30%.
“I realized that I was exhausted out of the blue. I would walk up and down stairs and would become out of breath,” Miller explained.
Miller’s father became his kidney donor, and after the transplant, Miller noticed significant improvements in his health. He credits his recovery and success to his faith and the support of his family. Miller, who was once an Athlete of the Year in high school, continues to excel both in his academic pursuits and in making everyone aware of the importance of listening to their body.
The Importance of SODA
Dr. Kim Andrews, the faculty sponsor for SODA, highlighted the significance of the student-led organization on the TROY campus.
“I think it’s really important because we need to show people that we are advocating for organ donation and education around organ donation,” Andrews said.
The first meeting of SODA was a resounding success, inspiring students with the powerful stories of Garrett and Miller. The organization aims to continue its efforts in promoting organ donation awareness.
