Font ResizeYou could say Shawn's life started over July 31, 2008. As Stockwell waited for his transplant his mom Trista recorded the moment asking him, "Why are you here?"
"I'm getting my heart," Shawn replied.
Stockwell was born with only half a heart. He left Alaska in first grade, thinking he was on his way to receive his new heart. But that incredible journey almost ended up taking a lifetime.
For two years, three months, and 17 days he waited at Stanford's children's hospital.
"It's hard to explain how we watched Shawn die," Trista says. "Shawn actually had his funeral planned out about two years into his waiting."
Shawn ironically almost did not make it 14 days after finally receiving his transplant. Then, four months later, something amazing happened. Shawn returned home for the first time, right in time for Christmas.
Almost one year later the Stockwell family is just as emotional about this reality: for Shawn to keep living someone else had to die.
"We knew the night we got the call it was in Los Angeles," Trista says. "And then we learned from the transplant team it was a seven year old boy."
At the state's tissue donation organization, Life Alaska, Clinical Director Marcy Dimond remembers some of the thousands of Alaskans who have saved lives by looking at their quilt wall.
"I think it's really important that their loved ones want them to be remembered for the heroes they are," Dimond says.
Since 1991 Life Alaska has partnered with Washington's Lifecenter Northwest, providing education and assisting donors and recipients across Alaska.
"There is a tremendous need for organ donors in Alaska," Dimond says. "There are over 160 patients waiting for transplants. And those patients are typically waiting in centers across the US. Primarily in the Washington area."
Every Alaskan waiting for a transplant must travel to the Lower 48, because Alaska does not have any organ transplant centers.
"So all transplant centers, the surgeons who specialize in performing the transplants, are located in other states," Dimond says.
"So that was real complicated and tough," Trista says. "On one hand we were grateful one center was willing to take Shawn on, because of so many complications, but on the other hand we went from two incomes to one income and two homes."
Shawn adds, "I still have to go down."
That is the reality for the Stockwell family. Many think Shawn's story ended with his transplant.
"They just think it's over. It's OK," Shawn says.
But Shawn is still in recovering, flying to California every six weeks.
"It is constant monitoring. It is constant medications. It's not over. But compared to the alternative it's incredible," Trista says, admitting one of the hardest things is how some of the 17 medicines keeping her son alive have changed his appearance.
"It was harder on him than I thought it would be," Trista says. "Not looking like himself. Many times he would not want to go out." With a smile on his face, Shawn says he still keeps going because, "I can meet new kids." "Be normal," Trista adds.
A normal child now thanks to part of a seven year old living on.
"And I'd absolutely want to meet the family if they're willing," Trista says.
While Shawn still does not know what to say to his donor's family, he knows what he wants to give back to them.
"I'm going to make them a bear from Build-A-Bear," Shawn says.
"And he had Scott record his heartbeat," Trista says. "Dr. Wellman, his cardiologist, recorded it in one of those recordable chips for Build-A-Bear."
Which will carry on the heartbeat they lost now sounding the shot at life even Shawn Stockwell once thought was never possible.
"These are all things that just stop me in my tracks," Trista says. "And it's amazing how he's advanced. It's just the coolest thing you can imagine."
One of the easiest ways all Alaskans can make a difference is by choosing to become an organ donor on your driver's license.
