After welcoming her newborn, this mom's final act of love saved 12 lives

Kathleen Thorson had a beautiful life—a loving husband, Jesse, and four cherished children, including their newborn son, Teddy. But just days after welcoming her baby, Kathleen suffered a devastating brain hemorrhage. Despite every medical effort, she would not recover. Instead of focusing on her own tragedy, Kathleen chose to leave behind a powerful legacy: donating 12 of her organs to those in desperate need.

Kathleen’s extraordinary act of generosity was nearly unheard of. Organ donations of this magnitude are incredibly rare, making her final gift even more remarkable. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to support Jesse and their children—Danny, Grace, James, and Teddy—helping them navigate life without her.

A sudden tragedy, followed by an incredible gift

Just five days after giving birth, Kathleen suffered a catastrophic intracerebral hemorrhage. Doctors did everything they could—performing multiple surgeries—but it became clear that she would not survive. Even in her final moments, her focus remained on others.

"We love her, and we will miss her with every breath we take."

— Richard Stubbs

Then, the news came: Kathleen was a viable donor for all 12 of her organs—a rare occurrence.

"The chances that someone is a candidate of this magnitude is less than 1 in a million."

— Richard Stubbs

Kathleen’s selflessness meant that nearly a dozen individuals waiting for life-saving transplants would now have a second chance at life.

Honoring Kathleen’s memory

Kathleen’s story touched thousands, including actress Kristen Bell, who shared her admiration for Kathleen’s selflessness on Instagram. She also announced that her baby line, HelloBello, would be donating a year’s supply of diapers and wipes to help Jesse and the children.

"Before she passed earlier this month, Kathleen said she wanted to save as many lives as possible and donated an almost unheard of 12 organs, including her heart and lungs," Bell wrote. "Jesse—our thoughts are with your family during this unimaginably difficult time. Sending peace and love your way."

Through the generosity of strangers, the Thorson family’s GoFundMe campaign far surpassed its original $50,000 goal, raising $130,385 before donations closed. The additional funds will help cover medical bills, funeral costs, and give Jesse the ability to focus on his children.

"Every little bit extra will help Jesse pay off bills and work toward the dreams he and Kathleen had."

— Richard Stubbs

Stubbs shared that any extra money would go toward one of Kathleen’s dreams—a beautiful garden in the family's backyard. This space was meant to be a place where Kathleen could teach her children about her love of gardening, host gatherings with friends, and embrace her "hobbit dreams." While she won't be there physically, her spirit will undoubtedly live on in every flower that blooms.

A lasting impact

Kathleen Thorson’s final act of generosity was nothing short of heroic. She gave the ultimate gift—the chance for others to live. Her story is a reminder of the incredible impact one person can have, even in the face of tragedy.

This article originally appeared earlier this year.