Trinity student's tragic death helps give others new life Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT >> I MEAN, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF TEARS. WE’VE CRIED. >> THE SUDDEN DEATH OF 15-YEAR-OLD DAVEY ALBRIGHT SHOCKED OUR COMMUNITY AND SENT A WAVE OF SUPPORT TO HIS FAMILY. HE WAS PULLED INTO THIS STORM DRAIN BEHIND HIS HOME DURING HEAVY RAINS. RUSHING WATERS CARRIED HIM YARDS AWAY THROUGH THE UNDERGROUND PIPELINE. FOR SEVEN DAYS, HE WAS CLINGING TO HIS LIFE IN THE HOSPITAL. UNTIL HIS FAMILY DECIDED TO TAKE HIM OFF OF LIFE SUPPORT. >> WHEN TIMES WHEN THERE’S TONS OF BAD THINGS HAPPENING, THERE REALLY ARE MIRACLES. >> BUT DAVEY’S DEATH WOULD BRING NEW LIFE TO THOSE IN NEED. HIS ORGANS DONATED TO DOZENS. ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE IS MELANIE HUGHES, AN EMPLOYEE AT DAVEYS HIGH SCHOOL, WHO’S BEEN SUFFERING FROM KIDNEY FAILURE FOR MONTHS. DURING DAVEY’S FINAL MOMENTS, IT WAS A CALL FROM THE TEEN’S MOTHER THAT GAVE HUGHES HOPE. >> IT’S REALLY HUMBLING THAT IN THEIR DARK TIMES THAT THEY STILL THOUGHT OF ME, AND THAT WE WERE ACTUALLY A MATCH. >> YOU KIND OF FEEL GUILTY THAT THIS POOR KID HAD TO GO WHAT HE WENT THROUGH, BUT HE’S PRODUCING LIFE FOR MY WIFE. >> IT IS A BEAUTIFUL MIRACLE. IT’S JUST GOING TO TAKE AWHILE BECAUSE OF THE GRIEVING IS GOING ON ON THE OTHER END. >> LEIGHANN SAYLOR IS AN ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE DEALING WITH KIDNEY FAILURE AND AWAITING A TRANSPLANT. SHE FOUNDED MULLIGANS LIVING KIDNEY DONORS. AND IT WAS THROUGH THAT GROUP, SHE WAS ABLE TO HELP HER FRIEND, MELANIE. >> AFTER SHE DIGESTED IT, OF COURSE, WE SAT ON THE PHONE AND CRIED FOR A WHILE. I FOUND IT IN ME TO TRY AND COMFORT HER AND SAY THIS IS AWFUL, BUT IT’S TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD OUT OF SOMETHING. >> UNDER THE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS AT TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL, FAMILY, LOVED ONES, AND FRIENDS HONORED DAVEY WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE AS WORD OF HIS ORGAN DONATION BEGAN TO SPREAD. >> EVEN IN HIS WORST MOMENT, HE WAS ABLE TO BE GIVING. >> DAVEYS FAMILY KNEW THIS IS WHAT HE WOULD’VE WANTED. >> THEY’RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE APART OF OUR LIVES NOW. THEY SAVED MY LIFE. I’M JUST SO GRATEFUL. >> MELANIE HUGHES’ KIDNEY TRANSPLANT COMES FULL CIRCLE. IN FACT, HUGHES IS AN EMPLOYEE AT TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE DAVEY WAS A STUDENT. HUGHES’ SON ALSO WORKED WITH DAVEY. AND, DAVEY’S MOTHER WAS ACTUALLY PLANNING TO DONATE HER KIDNEY TO MELANIE BEFORE THE STORM D

SIGN UP FOR BREAKING NEWS Get local stories sent straight to your inbox as news breaks. Submit Privacy Notice