### Kentucky Man Awakes During Organ Donor Surgery, Family Seeks Answers

In a shocking turn of events, a man declared brain dead and prepped for organ donation surgery regained consciousness mid-procedure. Anthony Thomas "TJ" Hoover II's unexpected awakening came as a surprise to his family and raised concerns about the protocols followed during his treatment.

On October 25, 2021, Hoover was brought to the emergency room at Baptist Health Richmond after experiencing cardiac arrest. Despite rigorous medical evaluations indicating no brain activity, his family was faced with the devastating news that Hoover was brain dead and moved to remove him from life support.

Following the decision, the family was informed of Hoover's status as a registered organ donor. Over the next few days, extensive tests were conducted to assess the viability of his organs. However, during the honor walk scheduled to mark the beginning of the organ retrieval process, Hoover began showing unexpected signs of life, including eye movement.

Despite these signs, doctors assured the family these were mere reflexes. It was not until an hour into the organ retrieval procedure that medical staff acknowledged Hoover had regained consciousness. Unbeknownst to the family, Hoover had shown signs of life earlier during a cardiac catheterization test that same morning.

Donna Rhorer, Hoover's sister, shared her frustration of not being informed about her brother's earlier signs of life, which she believes would have clearly indicated he was not brain dead. She expressed her determination to care for her brother, who she has been looking after for the past three years.

The revelation of Hoover's experience came to light in January when Nyckoletta Martin from Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates contacted Rhorer. Witness testimonies from this incident were later shared before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in September.

Dr. Seth Karp, Surgeon-in-Chief at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, commented on the situation, highlighting a lack of oversight in the operations of Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) over the past 40 years. The Kentucky Attorney General's Office is now investigating the case to determine what went wrong.

In response, Baptist Health Richmond stated their commitment to work closely with patients and families to ensure the fulfillment of organ donation wishes. Additionally, Network for Hope clarified that OPOs are not involved in patient care or the declaration of death and only proceed with organ recovery after an independent healthcare provider's declaration.

Donna Rhorer remains resolute in sharing her brother's story, hoping it will empower other families to question medical decisions and potentially save lives. "In my heart of hearts, I knew something went on, but I compared it to David and Goliath. Who am I to go up against the medical system?" she reflected.