Kentucky organ donor ‘came back to life’ as doctors prepared to cut him open

Doctors at a hospital in Kentucky, US, had the shock of their lives when an organ donor, who was declared brain dead, woke up on the operating table just as they were preparing to remove his heart.
The incident took place in October 2021 when Thomas TJ Hoover, 36, was admitted to Baptist Health Richmond Hospital due to a cardiac arrest following a drug overdose, The New York Post reported. Doctors declared him brain-dead and began preparations to harvest his organs.
But as nurses wheeled Hoover into the operating room, staff members noticed he was still showing signs of life.
“He was moving around — kind of thrashing. Like, moving, thrashing around on the bed,” Natasha Miller, a staffer involved in organ preservation, told NPR. “And then when we went over there, you could see he had tears coming down. He was crying visibly.”
The donor’s condition alarmed everyone present, including the two doctors who had been scheduled to perform the organ retrieval. They refused to participate, citing the unethical nature of the procedure.
“It was very chaotic. Everyone was just very upset,” Miller said.
According to Miller, the case coordinator for Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) requested new doctors to proceed with the organ retrieval. However, the procedure was ultimately cancelled.
Hoover’s sister, Donna Rhorer, said she and her family were unaware of the incident until January of this year when they were contacted by Nyckoletta Martin, a former KODA employee. She also recalled how Hoover, while being moved from the ICU to the operating theatre, had appeared to open his eyes and look around. Doctors allayed her concerns by saying it was a “common reflex”, she claimed.
“He made several attempts to say, ‘Hey, I’m here.’ But it was kind of ignored. They finally stopped the procedure because he was showing too many signs of life,” Rhorer told local news outlet WKYT.
Rhorer said doctors advised the family to take Hoover home and make him comfortable, telling them he likely wouldn’t survive long. Against all odds, he made a spectacular recovery and is currently in his sister’s care.
The case blew up after Martin and other witnesses came forward with their testimonies in September before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office has announced that they are now investigating the case.