Donor Hero 

Alex was born November 21, 1995; she arrived in 20 minutes from the time contractions started, always in a rush. Alex, the middle child of 3, her older brother Eric, and younger brother Kyle, whom she loved very much.

Alex loved nature, the stars, but most of all helping those in need, whether it was a turtle in the street, or a friend who needed to talk at 3:00 in the morning. She was able to be an emotional support for two young individuals. After her mother donated a kidney to a coworker in 2010, she told us how proud she was of Mom, and wanted to be a donor also.

She obtained her Associates Degree in Science, and was working full time at Seacoast Bank. She wanted to continue her education in order to be a licensed therapist. 

On September 14, 2015, she was having surgery where she had an allergic reaction to anesthesia which deprived oxygen to the brain; she spent the next 12 weeks in a coma. When it became clear that she would not recover we decided to follow what she wanted, to help others, and donate her liver and kidneys through Life Alliance (LAORA). So on November 24, 2105, three days after her 23rd birthday she passed and her organs were able to be donated. We were blessed as parents to be able to hold her in our arms as she left us.

An amazing thing happened afterwards, a young man on staff coincidentally got on the elevator with us on our way out of the building. He learned of Alex’s lifesaving donation, and as he exited the elevator turned back to us, and wanted us to know how proud he was of her, and that transplant work, as he showed us his scar from where he had a heart transplant.

In her amazing short life, she counseled two people to not take their own lives, and in her passing saved three people by donating her liver and both kidneys. We have met with Martha Davila, her liver recipient. 

- Mr. and Mrs. Haertjens (Donor Parents)