James Hornback

On November 17, 2002, MTS hosted its annual Thanks for Giving Ceremony as part of the National Donor Sabbath Weekend. The weekend is dedicated to paying tribute to those who have given the “gift of life” to others.

DeeHolsapple was one of the featured presenters at the ceremony. In March of 2001, Dee’s daughter, Sherry Holsapple, was killed in an automobile accident on Interstate 55 while Dee watched from her rearview mirror. At the hospital, Dee and her husband, Gary, were faced with the possibility of donating Sherry’s organs. Knowing she would have agreed, the Holsapples gave consent.

As the night drug on, the Holsapples were told about a helicopter that was coming into Barnes-Jewish Hospital. The helicopter had been hit by a duck but managed to land safely despite the fact that the duck came through the windshield and landed on top of the patient. They later found out what they already knew in their hearts; the patient, Linda Horner, was Sherry’s heart recipient.

Dee and her daughter had a fancy for ducks that started 20 years earlier. When Sherry was 8 years old, she had gotten in trouble. As a peace offering, Sherry bought her mom a baby duck figurine. She gave it to her mom and said, “But mom, I’m just a baby duck.” The laughter from her mom told Sherry that all was forgiven and the two’s affinity for ducks carried on for the rest of Sherry’s life. Surely, the Holsapples thought, the helicopter accident was a sign from Sherry.

A couple months later, Linda was at Barnes-Jewish Hospital for a routine follow-up biopsy. Gary Holsapple was also there working as a cardiology technician. Gary was able to meet Linda and see his daughter’s heart beating on a monitor.

Linda did not meet Sherry’s mom until many months later. On Thanksgiving Day, Linda decided that she should call the Holsapples to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving and thank them for giving her Sherry’s heart. A few weeks later, the two women met and Dee got to feel Sherry’s heartbeat for the first time since her accident nine months earlier. The two families now remain very close.

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