ST. LOUIS (AP) — Orville Allen lived a lifetime of service, and when he passed away at 98 years old, he made one last generous act: he donated his liver.
Allen, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, as well as a long-time educator in rural southeastern Missouri, holds the title of the oldest American ever to donate an organ, according to transplant organizations. He passed away on May 29, and his liver was successfully transplanted into a 72-year-old woman, as reported by Mid-America Transplant.
Allen was in good health until he suffered a fall while cleaning up storm debris at his home in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, on May 27, his daughter, Linda Mitchelle, shared. He hit the back of his head and was airlifted to St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.
The swelling around Allen’s brain was irreversible. As the family was preparing to say their goodbyes, the hospital staff raised the question: would they consider donating his liver?
Given Allen’s age, the question caught the family off guard. However, after surgeons examined him and determined that the organ was suitable for transplant, the decision was made without hesitation.
Knowing their father’s character — always the first to lend a helping hand, always there for a neighbor in need — the siblings were certain that this was the right choice.
“It transformed our sorrow of losing our father into a moment of joy because he was continuing to do what he had done his entire life,” Mitchelle expressed. “He was giving one final gift.”
Prior to Allen, Cecil Lockhart from West Virginia held the record for the oldest person to donate an organ upon death, according to the Center for Organ Recovery & Education. Lockhart was 95 when he passed away in 2021, and his liver was successfully transplanted into a woman.
Data from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), a nonprofit organization overseeing the transplant system, shows that more individuals are receiving organ transplants than ever before. Last year saw a record number of organ donations from deceased individuals — over 16,000 — and organ transplants performed — over 46,000, according to UNOS. Additionally, liver transplants surpassed 10,000 for the first time.
Despite these numbers, over 100,000 people remain on the national waiting list for organ transplants, and many may not receive an organ in time. The significant demand has led scientists to explore alternative solutions to address the ongoing shortages. For instance, earlier this year in Massachusetts, Richard “Rick” Slayman became the first recipient of a genetically modified pig kidney. Unfortunately, he passed away two months after the transplant.
Kevin Lee, president and CEO of Mid-America Transplant, noted the increasing trend of older adults donating organs upon their death.
“As medical science advances, we have been educating nurses and hospital staff over the past five years not to limit referrals based on age, but rather to allow our medical team and transplant physicians to assess the medical suitability of each individual,” Lee explained.
In Mid-America’s region, which includes eastern Missouri, southern Illinois, and northeastern Arkansas, a liver was procured from a 90-year-old donor two years ago. Last autumn, livers were donated by an 88-year-old and an 84-year-old individual.
“The liver is resilient. We have seen liver donations at all ages,” Lee emphasized.
In the first four months of this year, approximately 12% of deceased organ donors were individuals aged 65 or older, according to UNOS spokesperson Anne Paschke.
“Organ donation by older individuals can be successful and provide life-saving benefits for recipients,” Dr. David Klassen, chief medical officer for UNOS, stated. However, the impact of age varies by organ, and many transplant centers do not consider hearts from older donors.
Allen was a lifelong resident of southeast Missouri who served as a pilot in the Army Air Corps during World War II, followed by a role in artillery communications in the Army 1st Cavalry Division during the Korean War. After his military service, he spent 27 years in the Army Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
Additionally, Allen farmed and taught vocational agriculture at Neelyville High School near Poplar Bluff for nearly four decades. He and his wife of 70 years, Geraldine, who passed away in 2019, had three children, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
While he had not officially registered as an organ donor, Allen’s family hopes that his inspiring story will prompt more individuals to do so.
Already, they have noticed a positive response.
“Many former students and friends at the visitation and funeral mentioned that they were going to update their driver’s licenses to include organ donor status,” Mitchelle shared.
Greg Allen, one of Orville’s sons, expressed how the ability to donate their father’s organ brought a sense of comfort during an otherwise sorrowful time.
“To me, it’s a wonderful thing to be able to help someone else, anyone else, extend their life for their family,” Greg Allen remarked.
