CLEVELAND — When Sandy Flash first saw Sonny White’s radiant smile, she was overwhelmed with joy and fulfillment. Her decision to become a living organ donor had been life-changing, but seeing the energetic sixteen month old boy she had saved made every moment of her journey worthwhile.
Sandy, a wife, mother of two, and resident of Western New York, had a deeply personal understanding of the dire need for organ transplants.
Her husband, Jim, had experienced the agonizing wait for a liver transplant before finally receiving the call that a match was available. Determined to shine a light on the darkness of waiting for an organ, Sandy decided to become an anonymous liver donor.
"I know how terrifying it is to need a transplant," Sandy said. "I'm the kind of roll-up-your-sleeves person. I don't like to ask people to do things I wouldn’t do myself."
What Sandy didn’t realize at the time was that her selfless act would save the life of three-month-old Sonny White. Diagnosed with biliary atresia, Sonny was fighting for his life in Cleveland Clinic Children’s intensive care unit as his liver ceased to function.
“To be perfectly honest, I didn’t realize how dire the situation was,” Katie White, Sonny's mother admitted. “Maybe that was my brain’s way of shutting it off.”
The Cleveland Clinic transplant team soon discovered that Sandy was a match for Sonny. In May 2023, Sandy traveled from New York to Cleveland, where she underwent a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure to donate a portion of the left side of her liver. Her donation became a lifesaving gift for Sonny.
Now, 1 months later, Sonny is thriving. “He’s caught up on growth and development and is full of life,” said Dr. Deborah Goldman, Sonny’s pediatric gastroenterologist. “He’s a playful child who loves games like hide-and-seek and playing ball. The progress he’s made is nothing short of phenomenal.”
The two families have formed an enduring bond. Katie White, Sonny’s mother, has added Sandy to the family’s text message list. “Sandy gets all the updates now—school pictures, holiday photos, you name it,” Katie said.
Sandy continues to return to Cleveland for routine liver checkups, though her liver has completely regenerated and is back to normal. Sonny, meanwhile, remains on a lifetime regimen of anti-rejection medication and must be cautious as an immunocompromised individual. However, his progress is remarkable.
He is now down to just four medications and follows a regular schedule of doctor visits to monitor his health.
For Sandy, the experience was transformative. “When I finally met Sonny, it was like a wave of relief and overwhelming emotion,” she said. “It drove home the reality that what I did truly changed his life.”
Sandy hopes her story will inspire others to consider living organ donation. “There’s such a dire need out there. If I can help one person take that step, it’s all worth it,” she said.
Katie described the immense gratitude her family feels for Sandy’s selflessness. “It was like a weight lifted off our shoulders. Seeing the person who saved my son brought an incredible sense of peace, but I wanted her to know her gift went to the right place," Katie said.
This remarkable act of generosity has not only saved Sonny’s life but also forged a lifelong connection between two families. It is a testament to the power of selflessness, hope, and the incredible gift of organ donation. And both women hope it inspires others to consider doing the same for others.