Losing a parent is one of life’s biggest heartbreaks. For an only child, end-of-life decision-making can be a lonely and scary road. When Tyrisha Berry unexpectedly lost her father, Tyrone, she was surprised to find out that he was a registered organ donor, a choice they had never talked about. With the support of extended family and the HonorBridge team, Tyrisha chose to honor her father’s decision. In doing so, Tyrone became the first-ever organ donor at Columbus Regional Hospital in Whiteville, NC.
Tyrisha describes the HonorBridge staff who supported her through the process as her “extended olive branch family.”
“It’s a lot when you’re an only child,” said Tyrisha. “So, to have the HonorBridge team ask what I needed, whether it was water, snacks, or a hug, was so special to me. They were never controlling or pushy. They were more like, ‘let’s get you situated. Let’s get you what you need.’ Before the Honor Walk, they called to ask what songs we liked and what music we wanted for my dad. My dad was a Marine, and although they couldn’t find a Marine Corps flag, they made sure to have an American flag there. It all meant a lot.”
Described by his daughter as funny, caring, and full of energy, Tyrone “Ty” Berry was a true jack-of-all-trades. After serving in the military, he put his skills to work as a diesel mechanic and tackled anything that came his way.
“My dad was amazing,” said Tyrisha. “He was smart, well-educated, and very hands-on. Gifted, is what most people would call it. Finding out he was an organ donor was a surprise, but not a negative one. I worked at UNC Chapel Hill in the operating room as an anaesthesia tech, so I’d seen transplants, but never thought I’d be the family on the other side. It was definitely hard, but the HonorBridge team made it easier. It was like, hey, this is going to be for the good. One life has left, but another life is being given.”
When Family Support Coordinator Allen Thomas shared with Tyrisha that her father would be the first organ donor at the hospital, she found comfort in knowing he was making history.
“It was a very proud moment,” she said. “This was his legacy. When Allen first spoke with me, he told me that only two people could go into the OR to see my dad in his final moments. But after he learned that Daddy was the first, he said, ‘as many people as it takes for you, that is what we will allow.’ That really stood out to me. It wasn’t just about protocol, they cared about my family. The amount of love was powerful.”
Tyrisha has no doubt she made the right choice in honoring her father’s decision.
“They told me my dad successfully saved a 51-year-old woman with a liver transplant,” she said. “That definitely made me feel good. I would love to meet the woman he saved. She’s now a part of me for the rest of her life, because she has part of my dad. It’s helped in my healing tremendously.”
Tyrone’s Honor Walk struck a chord online, going viral with more than 18,000 views on Facebook. After tagging Columbus Regional Hospital, Tyrisha was flooded with heartfelt messages from nurses who had cared for her father, offering her their love and support.
“There’s a difference between doing your job and loving your job,” said Tyrisha. “They really care about their patients. The amount of love I received from the team at Columbus Regional was amazing. I was even told that one of their nurses actually changed their status and became a donor following my dad’s case.”
In the weeks after her father’s passing, Tyrisha was touched by the unexpected follow-up and ongoing support she received.
“You would think that they would just move on to the next case, because people pass every day,” said Tyrisha. “But with HonorBridge you have continuous support. The follow-up, the love, the feedback, just the thoughtfulness. You wouldn’t think that weeks later you’d look in the mail and get a grief journal. But someone knew—they may not have experienced it, but they get it, and that thought, that gesture, was needed at the time.”
For anyone hesitant to sign up as a donor or say “yes” on behalf of a loved one, Tyrisha’s message is simple—just do it.
“I know the lines for DMV are horrible right now in NC, but sign up online,” she said. “You’d be surprised by all the good that comes with it. The legacy doesn’t end with my dad, because I’m here to witness it and tell the world that something good came of this. I’m still grieving, and I will be grieving for a very long time…but to have HonorBridge as an extended family means a lot.”
75 or more lives can be saved and healed by one organ, eye, and tissue donor. Sign up as a donor today!
