### Man Declared Brain Dead Reawakens During Organ Harvesting Procedure

In a remarkable case that has drawn the attention of state and federal authorities, a Kentucky man named Anthony Thomas "TJ" Hoover II astonishingly woke up while surgeons were in the process of harvesting his organs. The incident, which occurred in October 2021 at Baptist Health hospital in Richmond, has prompted serious concerns and an ongoing investigation.

Hoover's sister, Donna Rhorer, recounted the harrowing experience to both National Public Radio (NPR) and Kentucky news station WKYT. Hoover was admitted to Baptist Health following a drug overdose. According to the family, doctors informed them that Hoover lacked any reflexes or brain activity, leading to the decision to remove him from life support. They were also informed that Hoover had consented to organ donation.

In preparation for the organ donation process, Hoover's organs were tested for viability, and a ceremony was held in his honor. However, during the organ retrieval surgery, Rhorer noticed Hoover's eyes tracking the movements of his loved ones, which the medical staff initially dismissed as mere reflexes. Surprisingly, about an hour into the surgical procedure, a doctor emerged to inform the family that Hoover had woken up.

Rhorer expressed her shock and stated that she was instructed to take her brother home and make him comfortable. Although it was suggested that he would not likely survive much longer, Rhorer has been caring for him for the past three years.

The full details of the incident came to light in January when a former employee of the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (Koda) contacted Rhorer and later sent a letter to a congressional committee overseeing organ-procurement organizations. NPR reported that this committee had conducted a hearing on organ-procurement practices in September.

Baptist Health responded to the incident by asserting that patient safety is their "highest priority" and emphasized their commitment to following patients' wishes for organ donation. Koda also denied the allegations, stating they have never collected organs from live patients and asserted that the situation has been misrepresented. The Network for Hope, which includes Koda, clarified that they are neither involved in patient care nor do they declare death; such authority lies exclusively with the patient’s independent healthcare provider.

Despite these assurances, the case has incited an investigation by Kentucky's attorney general's office and a federal agency that oversees organ procurement. NPR highlighted concerns that the media attention could undermine the organ-transplant system, which has a waiting list of over 100,000 people.

Rhorer defended her decision to go public, stating it was important to raise awareness and potentially save lives. She expressed hope that sharing Hoover's story might empower other families to speak up and prevent similar occurrences. "He made... attempts to say: 'Hey, I'm here,' but it was kind of ignored," Rhorer told WKYT. "They finally stopped the procedure because he was showing too many signs of life."