Arizona organ donor saves 50 lives

TEMPE, Ariz. — The worst day for Erica Hanson’s family turned out to be a bittersweet blessing for 50 other people and their families.

“For us, Erica’s death was the worst day. For some people, it was the best day. It helped me a lot,” Hanson’s mother, Alice Hanson-Drew, said. Ta.

Hanson died in 2014 at the age of 40 after her illness relapsed while undergoing rehabilitation at a facility in Prescott. She was a daughter, sister, friend and organ donor to many.

“He was a happy-go-lucky kid…he was very curious and loved to travel. He loved to sing and dance,” Hanson-Drew said.

Hanson-Drew said her daughter’s organ and soft tissue donation saved 50 lives.

“I’m grateful for my kidney,” said Donna Halterman, one of the organ recipients.

In 2011, Holterman’s life changed in an instant.

“One day I was fine, and the next day I was having nausea and vomiting. I called an ambulance and was taken to the emergency room,” Halterman said.

Halterman suffered complete organ failure and had only a 15% chance of survival. Miraculously, after three days, most of the organs except the kidneys returned to function.

“It was like treading water. That’s what I tell people: Just get through the days,” Halterman said.

After three years on the transplant list, Holterman got the phone call he had been waiting for and just hours later was scheduled for surgery at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix.

“This year marks the 10th anniversary of my kidney disease,” Holterman said.

Halterman and Hanson-Drew are now good friends. Although her daughter’s death was tragic, Hanson-Drew considers the entire process a blessing.

“Knowing that she touched 50 lives is very helpful to me. I mean, it’s an incredible statistic,” Hanson-Drew said.

According to the Arizona Donor Network, 865 lives were saved by organ donors in 2023.

Both women are now advocating for organ donation. Halterman said there is a lot of misinformation about organ donation, so it’s important to have the right information.

To find reliable information about organ donation, click here.

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