Circulatory death heart transplant was the first of its kind
A Bellefontaine High School graduate is being recognized for his selfless organ donation, saving the lives of six people.
It was Monday, Nov. 25, when Justice D. Yoder, 26, of Bellefontaine, went into cardiac arrest in his home.
Yoder, a son, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend, as well as a caretaker at Champaign Residential Services Inc., was a 2012 Bellefontaine High School graduate.
He is best known for his crazy dance moves and witty humor.
Yoder’s parents, Randi Haynes and Lynn Yoder, said his nickname as a child was “Barn” because of all of the destruction he caused.
But through his death, Yoder was able to the opposite of that destruction and give back.
Following his cardiac arrest incident, Yoder remained in the Ohio State University Medical Center until his death on Dec. 1.
Not only was he able to donate his lungs, liver and kidneys, but also his heart.
But when he donated his heart he made medical history.
Yoder is now the first adult in the United States to donate his heart after circulatory death.
Circulatory death is the loss of function of the heart and lungs.
A heart is normally viable for up to 30 minutes after it has stopped beating.
But new technology — the Portable Organ Care System — can resuscitate a heart after its stopped beating, making it viable for transplant.
The transplant was made possible by a clinical trial going on now until the end of 2021, according to the National Institutes of Health.