Doctors Thought It Was Over, but He Shocked Them at the Last Second!

In October 2021, a Kentucky man, declared dead and prepared for organ donation, shocked the medical team when he showed signs of life right before the procedure. Natasha Miller, an organ preservationist present during the incident, shared with NPR: “He was moving around — kind of thrashing. Like, moving, thrashing around on the bed… you could see he had tears coming down. He was crying visibly.”

Anthony Thomas “TJ” Hoover II, a 36-year-old man, had been admitted to Baptist Health Hospital in Richmond, Kentucky, earlier that day after an overdose. As his sister, Donna Rhorer, watched him being taken to the operating room for organ retrieval, she noticed something alarming: his eyes opened and began darting around the room. “It was like it was his way of letting us know, you know: ‘Hey, I’m still here,’” Rhorer said.

Two doctors immediately refused to proceed with the organ recovery once they realized Hoover was still alive. “The procuring surgeon, he was like, ‘I’m out of it. I don’t want to have anything to do with it,’” Miller recalled. The situation quickly became chaotic, with everyone in the room shocked by what had transpired.

The organ retrieval was ultimately called off, and Hoover’s life was saved. He now lives with his sister, who is his legal guardian. However, the trauma of the incident left a lasting impact on the medical staff involved. Some of them, shaken by the experience, chose to resign. “I’ve dedicated my entire life to organ donation and transplant. It’s very scary to me now that these things are allowed to happen,” said Nyckoletta Martin, another organ preservationist, who wasn’t in the room but reviewed the case later.

Hoover had undergone a cardiac catheterization earlier that day, a procedure to assess heart health before a transplant. According to Martin, Hoover woke up during that procedure, thrashing around, before being sedated again. Despite these signs of life, the plan to recover his organs continued until the final moments.

“That’s everybody’s worst nightmare, right? Being alive during surgery and knowing that someone is going to cut you open and take your body parts out?” Martin said. Horrified by what had happened, she wrote a letter to Congress, detailing the event.

On September 11, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing on organ transplant oversight. The committee referenced Hoover’s case, with a witness sharing that Hoover had reportedly mouthed the words “Help me” while in the operating room. The ordeal has taken a psychological toll on many involved, with Martin revealing that several employees needed therapy.

In response, Baptist Health Richmond Hospital released a statement emphasizing their commitment to patient safety. The hospital claimed they work closely with families to ensure the patient’s wishes regarding organ donation are respected. On the other hand, Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) denied allegations that there had been pressure to retrieve organs from living patients. “KODA does not recover organs from living patients. KODA has never pressured its team members to do so,” a spokesperson said.

This incident, though alarming, is not an isolated case. During the congressional hearing, Dr. Robert Cannon, a surgical director from the University of Alabama, shared a similar experience. A patient, declared brain dead, appeared to breathe mid-surgery, casting doubt on the brain death declaration. The incident did not involve KODA but highlighted broader issues within the organ donation system.

The Biden administration has since announced plans to reform the organ procurement system, aiming to increase transparency and accountability. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is investigating the allegations but has not commented further.

Kentucky’s Attorney General, Russell Coleman, has also begun looking into Hoover’s case. In a statement, Coleman said his office is working with federal and state partners to investigate the allegations and seek an appropriate response.

Hoover, since leaving the hospital, struggles with memory, speech, and mobility. His sister remains heartbroken by the experience. “I feel betrayed by the fact that the people that were telling us he was brain dead and then he wakes up,” Rhorer said. “They are trying to play God… you kind of lose your faith in humanity a little bit.”