Roman Denson, just 22 months old, was rarely seen without his dog, Willow, by his side. He spent his short but vibrant life running around outdoors, playing t-ball, and soaking up the joys of being a toddler.
“He was such a people person,” his mother, Elizabeth Denson, shared. “He loved being outside, going to the park, and just running around.”
Tragically, in the early morning hours of January 19, 2022, the unthinkable happened—Elizabeth found Roman in his crib, no longer breathing.
“We don’t know what happened,” said Elizabeth. “I started CPR, and we called 911. We were living on base at the time, so they took him to Womack Army Medical Center, where they were able to get his heart restarted. After they life-flighted him to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, they pronounced him brain-dead.”
Though devastated, Elizabeth and her family knew Roman’s organs could save others. “I have family members who are recipients, so organ donation was something that we knew we should do,” said Elizabeth. “Roman didn’t need his organs anymore.”
Roman’s organs were donated to four individuals: his liver, lungs, heart, and kidneys. Elizabeth fondly remembers Heather, an HonorBridge Family Services Coordinator (FSC), who drove through the snow to support them during the hardest days of their lives.
“I’ll never forget her,” said Elizabeth. “She was so kind and compassionate towards our family. She advocated for us, ensuring we could do an honor walk for Roman, despite the Covid restrictions. I still have molds of his hands and his feet that she did for us. She was phenomenal. She stayed with him every second when they were recovering his organs—it was nice knowing that somebody was there with him.”
One of the people whose life was saved by Roman’s gift was Jules Johnson, a young girl in North Dakota born with Alagille syndrome, a condition that affects multiple organs. Jules had undergone heart surgery, but her liver and kidney were also failing. Her mother, Rena Johnson, vividly remembers the moment Jules was given a second chance at life.
“When we were told she had a liver match, I immediately started bawling,” said Rena. “It was the biggest mix of emotions, because I was so happy that my child was going to get a chance to fight for her life, but I also knew that another mom was experiencing her worst nightmare. You just don’t want another parent to experience that heartache.”
Jules received her lifesaving transplant on January 24, 2022.
“Before the surgery, she was orangish-yellow,” recalled Rena. “It was crazy, because we only had only ever known Jules as being jaundiced—she had been like that since the day she was born. After the transplant, her skin color and everything started coming around. Her liver started working immediately, and her body started healing. She was still very sick, and experienced a bout of rejection, but by spring 2023, she was strong enough to receive a kidney transplant. Today, she’s like an entirely new kid.”
Rena says that not a single day has gone by when she has not thought of Roman’s family. About a year after the transplant, the two families eventually connected through a letter Rena wrote, which Elizabeth found deeply moving.
“Rena knew just what to say,” said Elizabeth. “It wasn’t ‘my daughter is alive, I’m sorry for your loss.’ She was so kind and reassuring, and she understood the sacrifice that it took from us in order for her daughter to receive a liver. I couldn’t have picked a better recipient.”
Since then, the two mothers have stayed in close contact, texting daily and sharing milestones in Jules’ life, many of which Roman never had the chance to experience. “Jules just started preschool, something Roman never got to do,” said Elizabeth. “But it feels like a part of him is still doing it through her.”
Despite living states apart—Rena’s family resides in North Dakota—the two families dream of meeting in person. “We say all the time that we’re not family by blood, but by donation,” said Elizabeth. “Jules’ mom always makes sure people know Roman’s name and the gift he gave.”
Jules’ life today is a testament to Roman’s gift—something that her family speaks of often.
“Jules runs around, jumps, and plays. She’s full of life,” said Rena. “It’s been amazing to be able to speak with Elizabeth, to thank her, and to be able to see pictures of Roman and know who he was. We talk about Roman—Jules has seen pictures of him and knows that her liver came from him. Honestly, there’s not enough words to thank them for giving Jules a second chance at life. She didn’t have many more days, if it weren’t for their son.”
Rena and her family have made a point to keep Roman’s memory alive by donating to fundraisers in his name. Recently, they had the opportunity to share pictures and speak about him at a gala at the Ronald McDonald House.
“I don’t know what we have planned for the future, but I would love to do things in his honor at different times of the year,” said Rena. “Whether it’s donating things to a children’s hospital, to the Ronald Mcdonald house, or incorporating something that he loved.”
As Elizabeth looks to the future, she is starting a nonprofit to support parents who, like her, have lost young children unexpectedly.
“There’s not enough advocates out there for parents,” said Elizabeth. “I live in Fayetteville, and there are groups for young adults who died from gun violence or drug use, but there’s not any for parents whose young children unexpectedly pass away. You don’t plan for any of this, and after the hospital, you just have so much information being thrown at you. I want to get more advocates in these hospitals who actually have been through it, people who can guide other parents through it.”
To honor her son’s memory, Elizabeth also gives back to her community by holding holiday toy drives for the less fortunate and making child-friendly pillowcases for children’s hospitals.
“You see someone like Elizabeth, who is so strong after going through every mom’s worst nightmare,” said Rena. “She is out there doing Easter baskets in Roman’s honor and holding blood drives, and it’s just an inspiration. I heal, too, when I look at how she’s taking her pain and making it into something so beautiful.”
In the hearts of Elizabeth and Rena, Roman’s memory is alive and thriving, just like Jules. While the pain of losing Roman will never fade, Elizabeth takes comfort in knowing that his spirit continues in the children and families he saved.
“Organ donation is such a personal choice, but it has been so healing,” said Elizabeth. “Roman was able to be that thing that could save four people. I was definitely the right choice. Little pieces of him are still out there doing something. He continues on—his legacy is still out there.’
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