Little girl’s organ donation could potentially save thousands, inspire even more

In life, Sophie Davis touched dozens of hearts. In passing, one of her organs could possibly save thousands of lives.

“We were elated that we could let her legacy live on,” Sophie’s mother, Lynn Davis, said.

“She was an incredible child.”

Sophie’s journey began at age three when doctors discovered she had several serious health conditions which led to brain stem damage.

“She was an incredible child,” said Cari Charcas, one of Sophie’s caregivers at AdventHealth for Children.

Charcas is heavily involved in the GR8 to DON8 5K/8K Run for Organ Donation, an annual organ and tissue awareness event in Central Florida benefiting the OurLegacy Susan Perkins Fund and presented by AdventHealth. She invited the family, including Sophie, to take part in the event and discovered a shared bond involving organ donation: Charcas donated a kidney to her own father.

“They were able to take a part of her pancreas for [diabetes] research,” said Charcas. “The amount of lives that she can potentially touch is more than any of us [might ever be able to do.]”

“You can make a difference in somebody else’s life with one decision.”

In addition to the lives Sophie’s pancreas may help save, her family also hopes that her story inspires others to become organ donors at a time when more that 100-thousand people are waiting for lifesaving transplants in the U.S.

“It’s powerful,” said Barry Davis, Sophie’s father. “You can make a difference in somebody else’s life with one decision.” Just like Sophie.

To see and hear more of organ donor hero Sophie Davis’s story, click HERE or on the video player at the top of this page.

April is National Donate Life Month. Registering to be an organ donor is simple and can be done in minutes by visiting the website for Donate Life Florida.

To learn more about AdventHealth Transplant Institute, Central Florida’s only solid-organ transplant program, click HERE.