05/11/2026
Shelby Farms planting carries message of hope through organ donation
Several trees were planted at Shelby Farms Park on Saturday morning, but organizers say the meaning behind the new additions goes far deeper than adding greenery to the area.
Eight saplings were planted near the Beaver Lake Picnic Area to represent the eight lives that can be saved through organ donation.
The Mid-South Transplant Foundation partnered with West Tennessee Urban Forestry and the Shelby County Health Department for the event, which organizers say was meant to plant hope and encourage more people to consider becoming organ donors.
“We cover 36 counties and so within that we have about a 2 million population and 4,000 of those are waiting for an organ transplant right now and 2,000 of those are in the Memphis area,” said Mary Beck, Community Relations Coordinator for the Mid-South Transplant Foundation.
For Gay Hannah, the message behind the trees is personal.
Hannah says years ago, she began experiencing chest discomfort and was rushed to the hospital.
“30 minutes later they told my family that I would not have been here. I was in chronic kidney failure, my blood pressure was through the roof, and I needed an emergency blood transfusion,” Hannah said.
After spending several days in the hospital, Hannah was placed on dialysis and waited more than five years before learning she had been matched with a donor kidney.
“And so even now with this interview, I’m declaring the works of the Lord. That’s my mission in life. And it’s because someone that I’ll never know at some point in their life chose to register to be an organ donor. And I was blessed to carry that life and continue it,” she said.
Artavius Veasey, the Digital Communications Coordinator for the Mid-South Transplant Foundation, is also a kidney recipient.
Veasey says he now works to raise awareness and educate others about the importance of organ donation.
“It’s such a blessing to be a voice for other people and those who are also Black or African American, to let them know that organ and tissue donation is very important,” Veasey said.
You can learn more about organ donation at Mod-South T
