'We knew it was the right thing to do.' Organs donated by WRAL employee killed in hit-and-run saved lives

In the United States, about 60% of the population is registered to be organ donors. But only 54% of North Carolinians are registered. Yet there are more than 100,000 people waiting for organs across the U.S. with 3,000 in North Carolina.

Posted 9:30 p.m. Sep 8, 2022 — Updated 9:55 p.m. Sep 8, 2022

Amanda Lamb

, WRAL reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — In the United States, about 60% of the population is registered to be organ donors. But only 54% of North Carolinians are registered.

Yet there are more than 100,000 people waiting for organs across the U.S., 3,000 of them in North Carolina.

Groups that solicit organs are trying to educate people about why this need is so critical.

While it seems that when someone ends up in the hospital after a tragic accident and their license indicates they're an organ donor, it should be a straightforward process, there are a lot of steps, and some of them are very emotional.

Erin Simanskis was an assignment editor for WRAL News. She was on her way home after a shift at WRAL on Jan. 21 when she was involved in a fender bender. As she stood on Western Boulevard to exchange information with the other driver, she was hit by a Nissan work van driven by Aldair Leon-Olluas.

Forty-eight hours after Simanskis was injured and knowing she would not survive, her husband, Ed, and his two children were taken into a room at the hospital to speak with a family support coordinator from HonorBridge about donating Erin's organs.

"All of a sudden, they said, 'Thank you so much for your wife being an organ donor,' and the light bulb went off. [I] totally forgot about it," said Ed Simanskis.

"All three of us knew it was the right thing to do."

HonorBridge is a nonprofit headquartered in Durham that helps collect organs in 77 counties in North Carolina and connect them with transplant recipients.

"We are seeing families in their absolute worst moment," said Taylor Anderton, community relations coordinator for HonorBridge.

"They were very compassionate about Erin's situation," said Ed Simanskis. "They were very open about the process that we were going through — very, very supportive of our decision."

Erin Simanskis donated both kidneys and her corneas. Her husband got a chance to speak to one of the kidney recipients.

"I have never come across somebody who is so genuinely happy and grateful. He was eight years on dialysis, and it was like he had a new lease on life. It was the most amazing conversation I've ever had with anyone," said Ed Simanskis.

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"Those are some of the most beautiful and profound moments to experience," said Anderton.

Only about three people out of 1,000 qualify to be donors due to circumstances of their deaths. Since the need is great, HonorBridge encourages people to let their families know that they want to be donors.

"It can be incredibly overwhelming, and when you already know what your loved one wants, it's a real gift," said Anderton.

One donor has the potential to help eight people. Those interested can become an organ donor when they renew their license at the DMV, or register anytime here.

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