In October 2021, at Baptist Health Richmond Hospital in Kentucky, 36-year-old Thomas “TJ” Hoover II was declared brain dead following a drug overdose.
His family made the heartbreaking decision to remove him from life support, believing there was no hope for recovery.
As part of a hospital tradition known as an “honor walk,” Hoover was wheeled toward the operating room for organ donation, with loved ones and medical staff lining the corridors to pay their respects.
However, during the honor walk, Hoover’s sister, Donna Rhorer, noticed something alarming. “We were told that was just reflexes, just normal instinct, and he’s not there,” Rhorer recalled. “But almost as soon as his honor walk started, his eyes started to open, and not just open, he was checking around, looking to see what was going on.”
Despite her concerns, hospital staff assured the family that these were involuntary movements. Hoover was taken into the operating room for organ retrieval. Once on the surgical table, the situation took a dramatic turn. According to former Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) employee Nyckoletta Martin, Hoover began “thrashing about, moving his arms and legs, and attempting to pull at his endotracheal tube.”
Another former KODA employee, Natasha Miller, witnessed the incident and described it as “horrifying.” She said Hoover was “moving and crying” as surgeons prepared to proceed.
Alarmed by the patient’s responsiveness, the procuring surgeon refused to continue with the organ donation. The surgery was halted, and Hoover was moved back into intensive care.
Several employees involved in the procedure reportedly resigned due to emotional distress. “It took its toll on a lot of people, especially me,” Martin stated.
Hoover has since been recovering under the care of his sister, who has become his legal guardian. He faces ongoing challenges with memory, mobility, and speech. “I do feel angry,” Rhorer admitted. “I feel betrayed by the fact that the people that were telling us he was brain dead, and then he wakes up.”
The incident has prompted investigations by both the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. Concerns have been raised about the protocols used to determine brain death and the oversight of organ procurement organizations.
Baptist Health Richmond Hospital released a statement emphasizing its commitment to patient safety.
Julie Bergin, president and COO of the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates, denied any wrongdoing, saying that no one at KODA had ever been pressured to collect organs from a living patient.
Former employees like Martin have become whistleblowers, submitting letters to congressional committees investigating organ procurement practices. “It’s very scary to me now that these things are allowed to happen, and there’s not more in place to protect donors,” Martin expressed.
Medical experts emphasize the rarity of such incidents but acknowledge the need for stringent checks.
The case has also impacted public trust in the organ donation system. Reports suggest a decline in donor registrations following the incident. Efforts are now underway to review and improve the organ procurement process to prevent similar situations in the future.
As Hoover continues his recovery, his family hopes that sharing his story will lead to positive changes.