Cape Coral family marks tragic organ donor death with memories, campaign

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CAPE CORAL, Fla. – Next week marks one year since organ donor Jamie Donaldson died while donating a kidney to his father.

Jamie Donaldson saved his father’s life in April 2015. He also bled to death on the operating table, according to an autopsy report. His death prompted Lee Memorial to suspend its live kidney donor program and Donaldson’s family filed a lawsuit.

The hospital recently announced a multi-million dollar restructuring of the kidney donor program, but Jamie Donaldson’s wife, Christine, said she wants to spread awareness about the importance of posthumous organ donors.

“Our family wants for people to become organ donors,” Christine Donaldson said. “We just want to honor Jamie in that way that he deserves to be honored.”

Christine and Jamie Donaldson were married for 24 years and had three children. She said his death has created irreversible changes to her family.

“It’s been very, very difficult on our family as a whole. Everyone is experiencing Jamie’s void in some way,” Christine Donaldson said.

With the tragic anniversary of his passing approaching, Christine Donaldson wants her husband to be remembered for his last act of compassion.

“He was doing something selfless when he died,” she said.

A piece of Jamie Donaldson lives on in his father Sandy, who successfully received his son’s kidney and is good health.

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