West Fargo girl died awaiting organs in 2004, helped increase rate of donation

FARGO – Some believe Alexa Kersting, who died seven years ago while waiting for a double lung transplant, today probably would have survived long enough for the donated organs to arrive.

That’s because the rate of organ donation has risen significantly since the 14-year-old West Fargo girl’s death in 2004, organ donation and medical officials said Friday.

And Alexa’s tragic story, which has been highlighted locally and nationally, is credited with helping to make that happen.

The issue of donating organs and the need for transplant organs and tissues are once again in the spotlight. Eleni Wilson, a 17-year-old West Fargo girl, died unexpectedly this week of a brain aneurysm and became an organ donor.

Loren Kersting, Alexa’s father, said he is convinced his daughter would have received the lung transplant in time if she was on a waiting list today.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt,” he said. “We’ve been told that by LifeSource and people in the medical community. A lot of them have told us that Alexa’s story has done a lot to help make that happen.”

LifeSource is the organ procurement organization for Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The sad reality underlying the gift of organs or tissues for transplantation is that hope for one life stems from the end of another.

“In general, it’s a tragic and unexpected occurrence” that makes organs or tissues available for donation, said Susan Mau-Larson, director of public affairs for LifeSource, based in St. Paul.

The rate of potential donors who donate organs or tissues is almost 80 percent for the three states, she said.

Families have become more receptive to donating organs and tissues, according to representatives of both Essentia Health and Sanford Health in Fargo.

“It amazes me that through tragedy people even think of this,” said Peggy Hill, who leads the donor council at Sanford Health’s Fargo region.

Stories from donor and recipient families, like those of Alexa Kersting and Eleni Wilson, play a large part in creating awareness of the need and benefits of donating organs or tissues, she said.

“It just offers some hope and healing that after someone dies, there’s an opportunity to save a life,” Hill said.

Nick Price, a senior at West Fargo High, knew Eleni Wilson and her family, and said she was known for her kindness and generosity.

“It’s definitely hard, but I like to look at it as God had other plans for her,” he said. “Her organs have been donated, and she saved, according to the principal at our school, seven other people’s lives. So I’m trying to look at it as positive as I can. It’s been a hard week.”

Families have an easier time when their loved one has clearly expressed a desire to be a donor, which can be designated on a driver’s license, Hill and Mau-Larson say.

Although major religions allow transplantation, “usually if they decline it’s because of religious and cultural reasons,” said Toby Jezzard, transplant liaison at Essentia Health in Fargo. “Everyone has their own beliefs.”

Eleni Wilson was a student at South Elementary School in West Fargo, where Loren Kersting is the principal.

“So that hit me very hard,” he said of her death. “I feel wonderful that some lives today are moving forward from Eleni. I wish so much she hadn’t died.”

But because of the growing organ donation rates, he predicts that within his lifetime the waiting list for pediatric organ donations will end – a testament to the generosity flowing from examples like those of girls named Eleni and Alexa.

• For more information about organ donation and transplantation visit LifeSource at www.life-source.org.

• For more information about Alexa Kersting’s story and how you can help, go online to Alexa’s Hope, www.alexashope.org.

Reporter Wendy Reuer contributed to this story. Readers can reach Forum reporter Patrick Springer at (701) 241-5522

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