Sullivan McArdle

Donor Hero

“Our son, Sullivan, is a hero,” shared donor mom Amy.  

“Sullivan spent his whole life at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC, where he was born. He was born prematurely and faced many difficulties in his short life. Despite this, he was a light of love and bravery. He had a big smile, a fiery personality and was so strong. We are so thankful for every day we spent with him in the hospital. Sullivan was almost 11 months old when he passed away suddenly. We thought we were close to being discharged and finally bringing him home. His doctors, therapists, nurses and care teams grieved for the loss of him with us, along with our families and friends.  

After the loss of our Sullivan, we were plunged into a darkness I cannot fully describe. Amidst that pain, there was a moment of clarity and purpose when we were offered the opportunity for organ donation. This was the only part that made sense and was the easiest choice we had to make at that time. We knew we had the chance to honor Sullivan’s life in the most meaningful way possible: by giving others the opportunity to live.  

Knowing that our son could save or improve the lives of others gave us a glimmer of hope in our grief. Through organ donation, our child’s life was multiplied; not just through his recipients, but through their families, friends, communities and everyone else touched by his donation. Although the pain of losing Sullivan will always be there, we take comfort in knowing that Sullivan’s life and his gift of life made a difference. It created a legacy of love and compassion that endures.  

If you are considering becoming a registered donor or advocating for donation, we encourage you to take that step. We are so thankful to everyone who makes this life-saving work possible. Donor heroes, their families, medical professionals and organizations like We Are Sharing Hope SC transform loss into hope through organ, eye and tissue donation.”