Man declared brain dead wakes up as surgeons prepare to remove his organs for donation

kentucky, usa - An American man declared brain dead after a heart attack suddenly woke up as surgeons were preparing to remove his organs for donation.

An American man who was declared brain dead after a heart attack woke up as surgeons were preparing to remove his organs for donation.

The incident dates back to 2021 but has only been revealed recently. Thomas 'TJ' Hoover II, 36, was brought to a hospital in the state of Kentucky after a drug overdose. Doctors informed his family that Hoover showed 'no brain activity,' after which he was declared brain dead and taken off life support.

According to hospital staff, Hoover had given consent for organ donation after his passing. To honor his wishes, the hospital evaluated which organs were suitable for donation, and even a brief funeral ceremony was held.

'I saw his eyes open,' his sister Donna Rhorer told American media. 'But the doctors assured us that they were just reflexes, something normal. And who are we to question medical science?'

About an hour after Hoover was taken to the operating room to have his organs removed, one of the surgeons came out to say that the man 'wasn't ready yet.' 'He woke up,' his sister stated.

She was then instructed to take her brother home to let him pass away, as he wasn't expected to live much longer. Three years later, Hoover is reportedly doing well under the circumstances according to his family.

'He sometimes has memory issues and struggles with walking and talking, but he is alive,' said his sister, who takes care of him.

Only earlier this year, Rhorer learned the full details of her brother's operation when a former employee of an organ donation center contacted her. 'The woman stated that she witnessed my brother begin to struggle on the operating table and visibly start to cry,' Rhorer said, hoping that medical procedures will be thoroughly reviewed to prevent similar cases in the future.