Becoming A Hero With A Yes
2023 Hero Award Winner - Katrina Fountain’s Journey
After sharing her journey with other Donor Families and encouraging them to volunteer, LiveOnNY saw an increase in the number of Donor Family Volunteers. In 2022, Katrina shared the power of her son being a donor hero at the TRIO Manhattan Chapter Annual “Remember and Rejoice” Ecumenical Service at the St. Patrick’s Cathedral in front of 3,000 people. People in the audience were so touched by her story that they thanked her for beautifully representing donor families.
Katrina’s dedication to the cause has even led to her family supporting the cause, and her father becoming a volunteer. She has also shared her story on media outlets such as I-Heart radio, Kings County Hospital Podcast, and in press conferences.
The lifesaving decision to become a donor can save up to 8 lives through organ donation and 75 through tissue donation. This is why CKF named this award for its heroes, as the gift of life is impossible without individuals such as Katrina. The Foundation invites you to celebrate Katrina and her incredible work for those in the community. Katrina will join CKF’s team of Ambassadors, and will continue to work to spread awareness nationwide through education and inspiration, overall increasing organ donation registration.
Katrina is the winner of the inaugural Hero Award due to her resilience and strength to make a selfless decision during the most difficult time. On 9/16/2000, Jaleel became a donor hero at the age of 5 weeks old, when his 19-year-old mom, Katrina, authorized Jaleel to give the gift of life. Katrina had taken her son in for a routine doctor’s appointment and was told he was in great health; she then dropped him at his father's, but soon received a call that he had stopped breathing. Doctors worked hard to save his life, but it was determined while Jaleel’s heart was beating, he could not breathe independently. Staff from the local Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) asked Katrina about the gift of life, her father interjected no, but Katrina jumped in and said yes. While she was always a daddy’s girl, she felt she needed to say yes. Jaleel saved a young boy with his heart, and a girl with his liver. His liver recipient is now 24 years old with a 1-year-old baby.
Katrina spent years unable to say her son’s name, but in June 2021, Katrina reached out to LiveOnNY, her local OPO, as she wanted to honor her son’s legacy on what would have been his 21st birthday. Katrina gained her life coach certification specializing in grief. She joined LiveOnNY’s Aftercare Department, facilitating quarterly donor family support groups, which aim to ensure individuals have a safe space to share. The group has become so popular they have had to cap the number of attendees. They have covered topics including permission to heal, grief during the holidays, and more.
