‘Get me to 21’ girl Jenna dies

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Cape Town - The girl who became the face driving organ donation in South Africa, Jenna Lowe, passed away on Monday. The 20-year-old Lowe had a rare lung disease, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, which she was diagnosed with three years ago. Through her search for new, matching lungs, Lowe had South Africans and the international community rallying behind her in what was dubbed the “Get me to 21” campaign. Through “Get me to 21”, Lowe encouraged South Africans to sign up as organ donors to increase the search base for herself and other patients waiting in line for organs. Her and her family’s work on “Get me to 21” received attention on many media outlets’s platforms across the country.

She was awarded the active citizenry accolade of a Lead SA Youth Hero award in September 2014 by Primedia Broadcasting and Independent Newspapers.

The premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille, also visited Lowe to wish her well and congratulate her on her awareness work around organ donations.

Late last year, Lowe found a match for her double lung transplant.

Following months of recovery time in ICU, though, Lowe passed away.

An outpouring of well wishes could be found on her mother Gabi Lowe’s Facebook page as well as the “Get me to 21" group.

“My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. So very sorry,” wrote Joanne Visser.

Another user Liesl Pauw Van Niekerk wrote, “Dearest Gabi, Stuart, and Kristi thinking of you so much, you are in our prayers. Jenna will live in our hearts forever.”

ANA