Finding Peace in Tragedy - A Story of a Family, Organ Donation, and Social Work

by Sarah Ivey

     For this article, I have selected a very special social worker I had the pleasure to meet during a tragedy that struck my family. On March 28, 2018, my brother, Zach Ivey, was involved in a car accident on I-385. Zach stayed in ICU until he passed on April 5, 2018. During his passing, an organization called Sharing Hope reached out to my family at Greenville Memorial Hospital. We then were introduced to the social worker, also known as the family support counselor, Eddie. Shortly after we received the news that Zach was pronounced brain dead, Eddie discussed organ donation with my family. We made the decision as a group, based upon Zach’s wishes, to donate his organs. Eddie was very patient with us as we sat in our grief, supplying emotional support and active listening.

     One core social work value that I observed Eddie providing to my family and to me was respecting the dignity and worth of a person. Eddie made sure to take us through the process of organ donation. During his education, Eddie continued to show my family dignity and respect. Eddie took us into Zach’s room to allow us one more chance to be together as a family. Soon after this, Eddie provided us with certificates that honored Zach and his memory, He continued to speak of Zach and how he would save lives and his memory would continue through his organ donation. The moment before the team took Zach for surgery, we were given the opportunity to write a message to be read aloud, honoring his memory. Eddie did a phenomenal job to ensure that Zach and his family felt dignified, respected, and honored during this process. Eddie still keeps in contact with the organ recipients and us. Eddie is currently working on a way that we can meet the people who received Zach’s organs during a ceremony to honor him.

     The dignity that Eddie was able to show Zach and my family was very inspiring to me. Eddie helped my family and me to find peace in our tragedy, which was something that I did not think was possible. I cannot imagine that working with families during that process is something that is easy. Eddie was able to provide that emotional support, active listening, and education that was needed to help us find some peace in the tragedy that we were faced with. 

     I am currently interning with Spartanburg Regional Hospice, and I have since been able to use Eddie’s kind words and sense of being present when working with the families and clients that I see with hospice. Eddie did an amazing job at assisting us in our anticipatory grief, as well as giving us something to look forward to in honoring Zach.

     After this tragedy occurred and I had the pleasure of meeting Eddie, I made the decision to pursue my education and obtain my master’s degree in social work. Eddie was able to inspire me to not only continue my education, but to focus on a new dream as a social worker. I hope to one day become a family support counselor to organ donor families and organ donor recipients.

Sarah Ivey is an MSW student at Winthrop University. She works in a hospital, interns in hospice, and attends school. She is also a single mother.