Young Woman Inspiring Others To Give Back As She Waits For Lung Transplant
SPRAGGS, Pa. (KDKA) -- A local college student, in the fight of her life for the second time, is hoping to make a difference while she waits for a double lung transplant, a surgery that she desperately needs.
Morgan Yoney, 22, from Spraggs, Greene County, needs Type O Positive lungs.
Her body recently rejected the lungs she received several years ago.
Her story went viral back in the spring after the staff of a Pittsburgh hair salon, Studio Raw, learned of her plight and encouraged local businesses to post signs raising awareness about organ donation.
Since then, Morgan has been a voice for organ donation, and recently, the Central Blood Bank reached out to her to raise awareness about blood donations.
"I've had a lot of blood transfusions and they have a shortage of blood right now," Morgan told KDKA's Kym Gable. "Obviously, they need more people to donate."
Morgan's Army Community Blood Drive runs through Aug. 14 at all Central Blood Bank locations. There is a special drive on Aug. 17 at the Armory in Waynesburg.
"She agreed immediately," said the Blood Bank's Kristen Lane. "She said she wanted to use this opportunity to give back."
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Morgan's mother, Tammy Yoney, said, "[It's] humbling that they reached out to us to help such a great need, and knowing that Morgan's story is not only helping with organ donation, but thousands of other people waiting for blood transfusions every day."
So, from now through Aug. 14, Morgan will be the face and the voice for this far-reaching community blood drive.
"(With) terrorism, hate crimes, all these terrible shootings going on, people feel helpless and hopeless, and they think I can't do anything. I think what Morgan is doing is helping people understand, as an individual, I can do something," Lane added.
So, while Morgan waits for her transplant, she's determined to save as many lives as possible.
"If it doesn't help me, in the end, maybe it will help someone else," she said.
For more information on how you can help, visit: http://www.centralbloodbank.org/MORGANSARMY
