Donna Niay remembers her son, Cordell, as a hardworking man who was interested in computer programming and wanted to design his own video games. He was motivated to work and earn money, enjoyed spicy foods and making his own salsa, and most of all, loved bowling. “He was a very good kid, a good man,” Donna says.
In 2019, Donna received a call that Cordell passed out at work, but no one was sure what happened. “By the time we got up there, everything was OK; they checked him out,” she says. “They weren’t sure why he passed out, but they said to keep an eye on him.” Over the next few years, Cordell experienced additional falls during which he hit his head and had seizures. Neurologists couldn’t pinpoint what brought on the seizures but warned him after one particularly bad episode, which resulted in a brain bleed, that if he fell again, it could spell major trouble.
The evening of June 6, 2023, Cordell left home to go to the grocery store. He was gone longer than usual and didn’t respond to calls or texts, which worried his family. Soon after, police arrived at their home and said that Cordell had fallen in the checkout line, hit is head and was on his way to the hospital.
There, Cordell was diagnosed with a massive brain bleed that required emergency surgery. Sadly, doctors were unable to stop the bleed and said that there was little hope of recovery. That’s when Donna learned Cordell was a registered organ and tissue donor. He wished to donate his organs and tissues to patients in need and donate the rest of his body to science.
“I never thought about it; I thought you get to the hospital, and they take your organs, they send you to the funeral home, and that’s it,” Donna says. “I didn’t realize how personal and kind the process was—it blew our minds how wonderful everyone was, and how much compassion they had. We were blown away by their kindness and that Cordell was treated like royalty.”
Donna and her family were able to say their goodbyes to Cordell before he gave his final gift. “It was hard. But yet, it was a relief that it was over,” she says. “Cordell’s helped 50 people so far by doing this, and he’s our unsung hero. Everybody is who does this.”
Since Cordell’s passing, Donna and her family have become strong advocates for donation, encouraging others to learn what it means to be a registered donor. “People need to know how wonderful a process this is,” she says. “I’m very proud of my son.”
Every 10 minutes, someone is added to the organ transplant waiting list.
Approximately 113,000 men, women, and children are waiting for life-saving organ transplants. One organ donor has the power to save up to eight lives and change the outcomes of someone’s world forever by giving them a second chance. Additionally, tissue donation can save and improve the lives of up to 75 people with their gifts. You can make a huge impact by registering as an organ and tissue donor.
Learn more about organ and tissue donation, or register as a donor at https://donatelifewisconsin.org.