Organ donor recipients gather to honour woman who saved their lives

Organ donor recipients gather to honour Adelyn Miller, who ultimately saved their lives. (WCCO via CNN Newsource)

EAGAN, Minnesota — After Adelyn Miller died in 2023, her organs saved five lives, and four of those she saved gathered together to live out her legacy.

“Oh man, I just miss talking to her,” said Vicki Wichmann Miller, Adelyn Miller’s mother.

Adelyn Miller’s family says she was adventurous, loving and made people laugh. She was 20 years old when she was ejected from a vehicle, fracturing her skull, and died days later due to a brain herniation.

Her mother says she wanted to be a paramedic one day.

“She was very much about helping everybody else,” Vicki Wichmann Miller said.

Which is exactly what she did.

“I owe her my life,” said Dennis Golownia, who received her lungs.

Kevin Enders received her liver.

“You saved my life and I’m eternally grateful,” Enders said.

Jack Feast got Adelyn Miller’s heart.

“I just want her to know she’s changed my life,” Feast said.

Suzie Dauer now has Adelyn Miller’s kidney.

“Hopefully, she could see it in my eyes, how grateful,” Dauer said.

After Adelyn Miller’s passing, her mother reached out to her donors and heard back from four of the five.

“Being able to meet her recipients has been extremely healing to me,” Vicki Wichmann Miller said.

On Saturday, they gathered together as one big “Brady Bunch.”

Recipients and loved ones painted rocks that’ll be placed across the world. If you find one, you’ll notice a QR code linking to Adelyn Miller’s story and her impact as a donor.

“I feel like I’ve gained a whole new family with Vicki and everyone else that’s here in Minnesota,” said Feast.

Feast, who lives in Illinois, can enjoy life with his daughter again. He has also gained new friends — or as he says, “family” members like Enders, who also travelled from the Land of Lincoln for the weekend.

“The fact we’re both still alive because of Adelyn is indescribable,” Enders said.

Golownia, from the Milwaukee metro, agrees.

“I can see the scars on my chest and I still think of her,” he said.

They are all signs that Adelyn Miller’s legacy is alive.

“She really impacted a lot of people,” Vicki Wichmann Miller said.

To become an organ donor, register online through the National Donate Life Registry.