Mothers Forge Deep Connection Following 'Remarkable' Heart Transplant

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – United by shared grief, Holly Campbell of New York and Kim Scadlock, formerly of Oregon, have formed a unique connection.

Scadlock’s son, Beckham, was diagnosed with a critical heart defect at birth, leaving a transplant as his sole hope for survival.

“Doctors initially told us the wait could be around six months, with only a 30% chance of obtaining a heart. We understood he had just weeks left,” Scadlock recounted.

In a remarkable turn of events, after a harrowing 10-day wait on life support, Beckham was given a new lease on life with the heart of a donor named Jake.

Jake, Campbell’s son, was two-and-a-half months old when he stopped breathing in his bassinet. After CPR and medical evaluation, he was declared legally brain dead.

However, Jake’s legacy, and heart, live on through Beckam, who is now 18 years old.

Over the years, tragedy turned into connection.

“It’s worth more than I think words can possibly express to know that part of Jake lives on. And part of Jake has had remarkable experiences through Beckham,” Campbell said.

Beckham is healthy, thriving and living proof of the power of donation as he gets ready to graduate high school.

Both mothers now travel and speak together, urging others to become organ donors.

In the Pacific Northwest, nearly 3,000 people are waiting for a transplant.

“One organ donor can save up to eight lives through solid organ donation. One tissue donor can save up to 150 lives, and a cornea donor can restore sight to two different people,” said Laura Ellsworth with Donate Life Northwest.

Donate Life Northwest is marking 50 years of saving lives through organ donation.

Campbell and Scadlock hope their story shows that saying “yes” can give someone a second chance at life.

“No one ever expects to be in the situation where they need an organ transplant or they have a loved one that needs one,” Scadlock said. “But because of the Campbells’ choice, Beckham has grown up and lived this awesome life.”