It’s been said that organ donation is not a tragedy, but a beautiful light in the midst of one.
That’s exactly how Joseph Fahey’s family and the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District family hopes the community will remember the 12-year-old sixth-grader at Chaloner Middle School.
JoJo, as his friends called him, was born with a heart condition and had a serious medical emergency on the Chaloner playground last week as he played ball with his friends during recess.
As his final act of kindness, his organs were donated to five other families in need. “While no family would ever want to make these difficult decisions, JoJo’s family was motivated by the prospect that something beautiful and positive could come out of their loss by giving others life,” the school system said.
“JoJo’s legacy will live on through the recipients of his organs as well as through his family, friends, and RRGSD community,” said RRGSD Interim Superintendent Julie Thompson.
While doctors are still unsure what caused him to go into cardiac arrest that day as a result of his heart defects, they do applaud the work of the Chaloner Middle School staff and others who came to his aid. “Our RRGSD staff thoroughly followed every protocol including the usage of their CPR/AED training,” the school system said. “They also acted swiftly to call 911 for emergency assistance.”
Teachers at Chaloner Middle School shared on Friday how kind JoJo was to others. He was respectful to his teachers, cared about his school work, and always wanted it to be done well.
“He was also a great friend who wanted to be a police officer when he grew up,” the school system said. “His family would like to thank the Chaloner and RRGSD staff, local EMS, fire, police, and sheriffs who responded to their son’s aid. Additionally, RRGSD would like to thank Integrated Family Services and their mobile crisis team for talking with our students and staff and offering social and emotional support.”
New strength often comes from tragedy and as a way of further honoring JoJo, the district is planning to partner with Project Adam, a national nonprofit designed specifically for schools and communities to help them establish a practiced plan to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest.
The program will include a cardiac arrest program of awareness, training, and effective emergency response to promote a safe environment for students, visitors, and staff as outlined within the Heart Safe School Checklist.
RRGSD is also partnering with the local non-profit Hope for Hardy which promotes organ donation and helping people in need who are specifically waiting for a transplant.
As part of organ donation awareness month in April, they are planning an informational assembly for students and a butterfly release in memory of JoJo.
“JoJo has amazing parents and family that I’ve gotten to know during this difficult time,” said Thompson. “I’m inspired by the strength of JoJo’s parents, Mikey Fahey and Candace Reeves, as they have walked this difficult road, but still care enough about other families so they won’t have to possibly walk the same path.”
