As HonorBridge marks 40 years of transforming lives through organ, eye, and tissue donation, HonorBridge board member Sherman Transou is a living testament to the incredible difference this mission makes every day.
“I was about 54 when a virus attacked my heart,” said Sherman. “I think what is probably the most surprising for me was that I had never been sick ever a day in my life.”
In 2015, Sherman, who owned his own landscaping business, was spreading pine needles at a client’s home when he suddenly found himself gasping for air, unable to catch his breath. A visit to the doctor revealed that he was suffering from congestive heart failure, and his doctors initially hoped to save his heart through treatment. By the end of 2016, his condition had deteriorated beyond medical intervention. In January 2017, he was transferred to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he was told he had a 50/50 chance of survival without a transplant.
“The gravity of that was so overwhelming for me,” said Sherman. “I was fighting with God in this situation, asking, ‘Why me, and what did I do wrong?’ After about three days of praying about the situation, I told Him that I wanted to live.”
Despite the fear and uncertainty, Sherman leaned on his faith and community. His mother was there in the hospital with him every day, and his sister, brother, son and daughter visited whenever they were in town. Coworkers, church members, and close friends all kept his spirits up as he struggled with infections, blood clots, and a tremendous amount of uncertainty. He was placed on an LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) in January 2017, a temporary mechanical pump to help his heart function. He spent 54 days in the hospital before finally returning home, all while awaiting the lifesaving call that would change his future.
That call came on June 17, 2017: a donor heart was available. “I was excited, but nervous. I knew my prayers had been answered, but I wondered, ‘What does this mean for my life? Will it work?’”
Sherman credits his “incredible transplant team” for providing much-needed reassurance in the face of major surgery.
“They always seemed to have a smile on their face and words of encouragement,” said Sherman. “Many of them knew the severity of this type of surgery, so they knew I really needed the support. I was very grateful.”
The surgery was a success, but recovery brought its own set of challenges, including a stroke during surgery that required rehabilitation. Yet, with the same perseverance that had carried him through life’s trials, he pushed forward. “I remember not being able to lift my legs to climb three steps in therapy. The next day, I got my mind ready, and I did it.”
About eight months after his transplant, Sherman reached out to his donor’s family. A year later, he received a letter back from his donor’s mother and learned that his heart belonged to Chrystal Nicole Stuckey, a 38-year-old military service woman, mother of four, and a graduate student from Abbeville, Alabama.
“That was tough,” said Sherman. “I really just wanted to express my gratitude and tell them how grateful I was that their family member was willing to have a selfless attitude about giving someone else a second chance in life. Chrystal’s mother wrote back and thanked me for the letter and said in their hearts and minds they recognize that her heart continues to beat through me. That letter brings tears to my eyes every time I read it.”
Determined to honor the gift of life he had received, Sherman set a personal goal—one that seemed impossible just months earlier. Thirty months after his transplant, he completed a half marathon. “It wasn’t about winning. It was about proving to myself that I was back,” he said.
Since then, Sherman has dedicated himself to advocacy and education, sharing his story through public speaking and serving on the HonorBridge board.
“As an African American, I know that our community often struggles with understanding the importance of organ donation, even with us having a high ratio of people who need transplants. But I want people to know: it’s not what you think it is. There are myths out there, but qualifying to receive an organ is not like going to the grocery store and picking something off the shelf. They’re not going to snatch you up off the street and take your organs. If you’re in a car wreck, they’re not just going to let you die in order to take them. Those things don’t happen. For me, I try to go into multicultural communities and push past this lack of trust in the system. The truth is that organ donation saves lives. And I’m living proof.”
Through his work with HonorBridge, the American Heart Association, and other volunteer opportunities, Sherman continues to inspire others to consider the power of organ donation.
“I’ve been on the HonorBridge board for probably around four years now,” said Sherman. “Prior to that, I didn’t realize the amount of planning, coordination, and preparation that goes into making transplantation possible. I appreciate seeing the other side, the donation side, and what they had to do for my organ to get here. Being on the board is an opportunity to see behind the scenes.”
As HonorBridge marks four decades of service, stories like Sherman’s remind us why the mission matters. Every donor, every family, and every transplant represent a chance at life—a chance that Sherman Transou doesn’t take for granted.
“I encourage HonorBridge to continue to do what they’re doing, because without them, and without my donor, I wouldn’t be here,” said Sherman. “It’s very emotional when I think about it. So, thank you for all you do. Your work does not go unnoticed.”
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