A man from Virginia, Zack Pate, became the third person in the U.S. with HIV to donate his heart and the first for the hospital where the surgery took place.
Zack, 29, from Hampton Roads, sadly passed away by suicide. He had wanted to be an organ donor and had registered as one when he lived in North Carolina. However, he didn’t register again after moving to Virginia because he thought he couldn’t donate due to his HIV status.
In 2013, the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act was passed, allowing people with HIV to donate organs. Zack’s donation marked an important moment, as it was the first time Sentara Norfolk General Hospital received a heart from an HIV-positive donor.
Doug Wilson, an executive at LifeNet Health, which helped coordinate the donation, emphasized the impact of organ donations. He noted that one donor can help multiple people and their families.
Zack’s sister, Ashleigh Blankenship, expressed relief that they could fulfill her brother’s wish to be an organ donor. She remembered him as a quiet but energetic person and said they miss him dearly.
For more information on organ donation or to sign up as a donor, you can find details here. If you’re in crisis, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or text “HOME” to 741741.