Shirley Brill: An Organ Recipient Who Used Her Experience to Educate
When Florida teacher Shirley Brill could not keep up with her 5th-grade students, she knew something was wrong with her lungs. She decided to consult medical professionals, whose responses only heightened her anxiety. Emergency room tests provided inconclusive results, while Shirley’s primary care doctor noted her depleting oxygen levels but could give no name or treatment for her condition. When inhalers failed to elevate the oxygen levels in her lungs, providers recommended Shirley for an organ transplant.
Shirley underwent intensive medical tests, revealing that she had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a condition involving the scarring of the lung tissue. The severity of her diagnosis required utilizing an oxygen machine at all times, which impeded her movement. Despite difficulties with breathing and mobility, Shirley continued to teach.
After three years on oxygen, Shirley’s condition failed to improve, and she was diagnosed with end-stage lung disease. “For lung disease, you either get the transplant or…” Shirley hesitated. “You pass on.” Unfortunately, Shirley could no longer teach and was forced to wait for an organ donation.
On May 5th, 2008, Shirley received a call that surgery could begin immediately, as an organ match was found. While she celebrated this news, Shirley worried that the surgery would not proceed properly. Shirley envisioned a scenario in which she would be told by the hospital staff, “Not this time, Ms. Brill! We’re sorry, we’ll call you back.” Yet, on May 6th, 2008, Shirley was surprised to be discharged from the hospital with a successful double lung transplant.
Within three months, Shirley fully recovered from her surgery and returned to the classroom. While she was happy to resume her normal activities, Shirley felt the desire to share her (literal) transformative experience with others. Initially, Shirley joined the Multicultural Task Force, a group designed to promote involvement in organ donation. However, after learning about low levels of organ donor registration within the African American community, Shirley created a Facebook group called Educating Minorities About Transplants. Shirley and her colleague designed the non-profit with specific goals in mind. Firstly, she desired to dispel the myths of organ donation by educating people about the reality of the process. Secondly, Shirley wanted to increase the visibility of successful Black organ transplants to decrease the stigma surrounding the procedure. Having partnered with Donate Life and LifeQuest, Shirley and her team travel to communities to conduct donor registration drives. Adhering to the motto “see the faces, hear the stories, and feel the love,” Educating Minorities About Transplants shares the stories of individuals involved in the organ donation process in hopes of raising awareness. Shirley concluded, “If you see the faces and hear the stories, hopefully you’ll feel love in your heart and want to say yes [to becoming an organ donor].”