Kendrick Shelton was ornery but had a big heart – in life and in death.
He told his mother at 16 that he wasn’t interested in registering to be an organ donor. But he did so seven years later, without telling her, when he received his commercial driver’s license.
Just a few months later, in September 2024, following a tragic, work-related motor vehicle accident, the 23-year-old St. Elmo man saved five lives through organ donations and enhanced another 10 through bone tissue transplantation at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.
“That was Kendrick,” his mother, Katie Shelton, said. “He had a very mischievous nature, but he never knew a stranger.”
Katie Shelton will share her son’s story during the National Donate Life Month Flag-Raising Ceremony and Memorial Walk at noon April 3 at Carle Foundation Hospital, where his organs and tissues were donated.
“Kendrick would be proud of me speaking about this publicly for the first time at Carle Foundation Hospital,” Katie Shelton said. “I am doing this in his honor and to help people to realize that organ donation gives you peace. I have more peace knowing he helped so many people.”
“I urge people to sign up to be organ donors and save lives,” she said.
Carle Health hosts three Donate Life Month ceremonies
April is National Donate Life Month. Carle Health continues its partnership with Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network to host National Donate Life Month ceremonies that are open to the public:
All eight Carle Health hospitals work with Gift of Hope to facilitate organ and tissue donation with patients who have registered their intent to be organ and tissue donors and whose loved ones wish to save the lives of others following a death.
In 2024, Carle Foundation Hospital had 23 organ donors – including Shelton – who saved 75 lives because more than one organ may be transplanted from each donor. In addition, 61 tissue donors enhanced numerous lives.
“Carle Foundation Hospital plays a key role in supporting organ donation by serving as a donating hospital,” Elizabeth Angelo, DNP, RN, Carle Foundation Hospital president, said. “This work is close to home for many of us, as we know individuals who have been donors and recipients. Our team does a remarkable job supporting the donation process and providing quality care in a holistic way to donors and their families. We know their generous gift saves and improves lives and we are proud to support them.”
At Carle Health Methodist during 2024, seven organ donors saved eight lives. In addition, among the three Carle Health hospitals in the Greater Peoria service area, 27 tissue donors enhanced numerous lives.
“At Carle Health Methodist, Proctor and Pekin hospitals, our team works hard every day to save lives and improve lives,” Keith Knepp, MD, Carle Health Greater Peoria president, said. “Some of our most important and meaningful work with families and their loved ones is with those who decide to give the gift of life. We are proud of our team, are humbled by the gifts of our donors and commit to continuing to support this process.”
At Carle BroMenn during 2024, two organ donors saved five lives. In addition, 14 tissue donors enhanced numerous lives.
“Being an organ donor is such a selfless, compassionate, life-changing way to support other human beings,” Colleen Kannaday, FACHE, president of Carle BroMenn and Carle Eureka Hospital, said. “In healthcare, we see firsthand the incredible need for organ donors to help save lives. We also witness the profound healing and peace that families experience through the gift of organ donation during a very difficult time.”’
Stories of Hope
Families touched by organ donation will offer Stories of Hope at each event:
“In a time that is so traumatic, there is so much honor, respect and beauty in being a donor family,” Hand said. “I hope more people are willing to register to be organ donors.
“Organ donation changes lives completely.”
How to help
The three flag-raising ceremonies are open to the public. Anyone wishing to register to be an organ donor should talk with their Carle Health care team about advanced care planning support.
He told his mother at 16 that he wasn’t interested in registering to be an organ donor. But he did so seven years later, without telling her, when he received his commercial driver’s license.
Just a few months later, in September 2024, following a tragic, work-related motor vehicle accident, the 23-year-old St. Elmo man saved five lives through organ donations and enhanced another 10 through bone tissue transplantation at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.
“That was Kendrick,” his mother, Katie Shelton, said. “He had a very mischievous nature, but he never knew a stranger.”
Katie Shelton will share her son’s story during the National Donate Life Month Flag-Raising Ceremony and Memorial Walk at noon April 3 at Carle Foundation Hospital, where his organs and tissues were donated.
“Kendrick would be proud of me speaking about this publicly for the first time at Carle Foundation Hospital,” Katie Shelton said. “I am doing this in his honor and to help people to realize that organ donation gives you peace. I have more peace knowing he helped so many people.”
“I urge people to sign up to be organ donors and save lives,” she said.
Carle Health hosts three Donate Life Month ceremonies
April is National Donate Life Month. Carle Health continues its partnership with Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network to host National Donate Life Month ceremonies that are open to the public:
- Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana – April 3, Noon. The ceremony begins with the program at Pollard Auditorium in The Forum before concluding with a walk to the flagpole for the Gift of Hope flag-raising outside the hospital’s Heart and Vascular Institute entrance.
- Carle Health Methodist Hospital, Peoria – April 8, Noon. The ceremony begins with the program in the Morron Room before concluding with the Gift of Hope flag-raising outside the Carle Health Methodist main entrance.
- Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Normal – April 9, Noon. The ceremony begins with a program on the second floor of the hospital’s Atrium, followed by the Gift of Hope flag-raising outside the Atrium.
All eight Carle Health hospitals work with Gift of Hope to facilitate organ and tissue donation with patients who have registered their intent to be organ and tissue donors and whose loved ones wish to save the lives of others following a death.
In 2024, Carle Foundation Hospital had 23 organ donors – including Shelton – who saved 75 lives because more than one organ may be transplanted from each donor. In addition, 61 tissue donors enhanced numerous lives.
“Carle Foundation Hospital plays a key role in supporting organ donation by serving as a donating hospital,” Elizabeth Angelo, DNP, RN, Carle Foundation Hospital president, said. “This work is close to home for many of us, as we know individuals who have been donors and recipients. Our team does a remarkable job supporting the donation process and providing quality care in a holistic way to donors and their families. We know their generous gift saves and improves lives and we are proud to support them.”
At Carle Health Methodist during 2024, seven organ donors saved eight lives. In addition, among the three Carle Health hospitals in the Greater Peoria service area, 27 tissue donors enhanced numerous lives.
“At Carle Health Methodist, Proctor and Pekin hospitals, our team works hard every day to save lives and improve lives,” Keith Knepp, MD, Carle Health Greater Peoria president, said. “Some of our most important and meaningful work with families and their loved ones is with those who decide to give the gift of life. We are proud of our team, are humbled by the gifts of our donors and commit to continuing to support this process.”
At Carle BroMenn during 2024, two organ donors saved five lives. In addition, 14 tissue donors enhanced numerous lives.
“Being an organ donor is such a selfless, compassionate, life-changing way to support other human beings,” Colleen Kannaday, FACHE, president of Carle BroMenn and Carle Eureka Hospital, said. “In healthcare, we see firsthand the incredible need for organ donors to help save lives. We also witness the profound healing and peace that families experience through the gift of organ donation during a very difficult time.”’
Stories of Hope
Families touched by organ donation will offer Stories of Hope at each event:
- Katie Shelton, who will share the story of her son, Kendrick, an organ and tissue donor, at Carle Foundation Hospital.
- Harley Brooks III, MD, MBA, associate medical director of utilization management for the Carle Health East and South Regions, of Champaign, who will discuss his heart transplant journey at Carle Foundation Hospital.
- Devereux Hubbard, of Peoria, who will share the story of his son, Deveraux Hubbard II, a cornea donor, at Carle Health Methodist, where the donation was made.
- Meghan Hand, of East Peoria, who will talk at Carle BroMenn about being a stepmom to a tissue donor and a liver transplant recipient.
“In a time that is so traumatic, there is so much honor, respect and beauty in being a donor family,” Hand said. “I hope more people are willing to register to be organ donors.
“Organ donation changes lives completely.”
How to help
The three flag-raising ceremonies are open to the public. Anyone wishing to register to be an organ donor should talk with their Carle Health care team about advanced care planning support.
Categories: Community
Tags: BroMenn, CFH, donate, gift, Methodist, organs, tissues, transplant