For a decade, Selena Nanez, of Tulsa, Okla., was her brother Jacob’s caregiver, his advocate, and his protector. At the end of his life, she became the voice that ensured his legacy would offer hope to others.
Jacob Nanez was happy, fun-loving ten-year-old boy who had a heart for helping those around him.
“I’ll never forget just how generous my brother was at just ten years old,” Selena remembered. “He would mow random people’s yards for free or ride around the neighborhood and deliver newspapers to their front door if they had one. Jacob was just the coolest kid on the block.”
In March of 1991, Jacob’s life would change forever. Just as he crossed the road after visiting the neighborhood ice cream van, he was hit in the street by a dump truck. In an attempt to save his life, he was airlifted to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas, where medical professionals did everything they could to save his life.
Following the tragic event, Jacob suffered brain swelling and ultimately was intubated. His family prayed for his recovery, and though he was able to return home, Jacob’s brain injury meant that he would never walk, speak, or function the way he did before.
“We were just shattered,” Selena said. “We were heartbroken that our family would never be the same.”
In October of 2014, tragedy struck the Nanez family again when Selena’s mother, Francis, passed away. Because Jacob needed 24-hour care, Selena bravely assumed the role as his full-time guardian and caregiver.
“My mom’s passing put a lot of depression on Jacob, another hill he overcame,” Selena said. “At this point, I started to believe that he was a true superhero!”
For eight years, Selena and Jacob navigated their new life together, tackling each day with optimism and determination. However, it was in May of 2022 that their lives would change yet again.
Jacob was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with pneumonia in both of his lungs. His medical team informed Selena that Jacob would need to have tracheostomy surgery to help him breathe. Following the operation, Jacob returned home for two months but faced numerous other ICU visits for his pneumonia.
Ultimately, Jacob’s condition required more care than Selena could provide at home, and he was moved to a rehabilitation facility for his recovery. However, while at the facility, his trachea became infected, leading to a seizure that worsened his existing brain injury.
After five days in the ICU, Selena had to make the most difficult choice she’d ever face. Jacob wouldn’t be able to recover and remained unresponsive on ventilator support in his hospital bed. It was at this time that Selena first met the LifeShare Oklahoma team to learn more about the process of organ donation.
“LifeShare came to the hospital and spoke with me about everything,” she shared. “It was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make but I feel confident it’s what both Jacob and my mom would have wanted.”
With his gifts, Jacob created a legacy that will last generations. He was able to save the lives of four others through donating his kidneys, liver, and heart.
Today, Selena has a new perspective on the gift of organ, eye and tissue donation,
“Jacob has given others a chance at life,” she said. “I encourage others to consider making the same choice.”
Across Oklahoma, more than 800 of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones are awaiting a lifesaving transplant. Just one donor hero can save up to eight lives and enhance countless more. To learn more about how you can offer hope to our communities throughout the state, visit LifeShareOK.org.
