Kathleen Thorson had a fulfilling life with her loving husband, Jesse, and their growing family. They were overjoyed with the arrival of their baby boy, Teddy. However, tragedy struck when Kathleen fell seriously ill. Instead of focusing on her own struggles, Kathleen’s selflessness shone through.
In her final moments, she made the remarkable decision to become an organ donor, ensuring that others would have a chance at life even as she faced her own mortality.
Kathleen made an extraordinary gesture by donating 12 of her organs, including her heart and lungs, to patients in need. This rare and remarkable contribution showcases her selflessness and compassion.
In support of Jesse and their children, Danny, Grace, James, and Teddy, a GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist them as they navigate life without Kathleen.
Just five days after giving birth to baby Teddy, Kathleen experienced a devastating intracerebral hemorrhage. Despite the medical team’s best efforts and multiple surgeries, it became evident that she would not be able to recover.
In her last moments, Kathleen made sure that her legacy would endure by saving lives, displaying an extraordinary level of selflessness and love.
“Kathleen’s health declined to a critical stage where her survival became impossible. As per her wishes, we are making every effort to fulfill her desire to become a life-saving miracle for those in need of organ donations,” stated Richard Stubbs, the organizer of the GoFundMe campaign, on January 8, 2020.
He further expressed, “There are no adequate words to express our love for her, and her absence will be felt deeply. Despite the challenges, her love, vitality, and enchantment continue to resonate.”
Kathleen’s final wish was granted when it was discovered that she met all the requirements to be a donor for all her organs. Providing an update on the campaign on January 11, 2020, Stubbs expressed, “The nurse informed Jesse that the likelihood of someone being a candidate of this magnitude is less than 1 in a million.
But those who knew Kathleen were already aware of that. We are extremely delighted to announce that Kathleen will be able to fulfill the much-awaited miracle for almost a dozen individuals who are eagerly awaiting an organ donation.”
“We are willing to do whatever it takes to bring Kathleen back to us, but we are incredibly thankful that someone else’s loved one will be returning home thanks to Kathleen’s selfless sacrifice. We hold her dear in our hearts and her absence is deeply felt.
We will always love and miss her. May God protect her heart, which beats faster at the sight of children playing. May He fill her lungs with the fragrance of lavender fields, bringing comfort to another. And may the angels in heaven celebrate her arrival as Kathleen is welcomed home,” he expressed with heartfelt emotion.
Actress Kristen Bell was moved by Thorson’s story and took to Instagram to announce that her baby line, HelloBello, would be providing the family with a year’s supply of wipes and diapers.
Bell also shared that before Kathleen’s passing, she expressed her desire to save as many lives as possible and generously donated a remarkable 12 organs, including her heart and lungs.
In her Instagram post, Bell expressed her support for Jesse and his family, offering them her thoughts, love, and peace during this incredibly challenging time.
The GoFundMe campaign exceeded all expectations by raising a staggering $130,385, surpassing its initial goal of $50,000. It even went beyond the stretch goal of $95,000, which will greatly assist the Thorson family in covering medical expenses and funeral costs, while also allowing Jesse to dedicate more time to his children.
Stubbs shared that the additional funds will be utilized to create a garden in their backyard. He explained, “Every extra contribution will greatly support Jesse in paying off bills and pursuing the shared dream he and Kathleen had of building a beautiful garden in their backyard.
This garden was intended to be a space where Kathleen could impart her love for gardening to their children, host enjoyable events for friends, and live out her cherished ‘hobbit’ dreams.”
