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2022 Local Honorees for Temple
Trooper Chad Walker
Multiple Organ Donor
Groesbeck, TX
Chad Michael Walker was born May 21, 1982 in Corsicana, Texas. He grew up in Groesbeck, graduating from Groesbeck High School in 2000 and from Navarro College Police Academy in 2003 as his class Valedictorian.
He loved anything outdoors – hunting, fishing, his cows, and his kids were a pleasure to Chad. He grew up helping his grandfather, Dennis, with cattle and was proud of his own Beefmaster herd. Chad was very involved in community activities in both Limestone and Freestone counties and was on the Limestone County Farm Bureau Board of Directors.
Chad began a career in law enforcement in 2003 at Athens Police Department, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Groesbeck Police Department, and the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office. He joined the Department of Public Safety in 2015 and was stationed in Groesbeck.
Chad was joined as one, to be married for life, with Tobie Taylor Walker in September, 2018. They lived in Groesbeck with their four children Ethan, twin daughters Rylee and Charlee, and newborn daughter, Tulsa June. Chad was a Christian, worshiping at Living Proof Church in Groesbeck.
After Chad’s life of service to his family, friends, and the public, he gave the ultimate gift through the donation of his organs to help keep others alive. The Department of Public Safety said in a statement, “This final sacrifice embodies Trooper Walker’s actions throughout his life and service as a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper.”
Trooper Walker will be honored at each local event along the 2022 Lone Star Route.
Amy Henderson Firth
Organ and Tissue Donor
Amy Henderson Firth died suddenly in November of 2012. Because Amy had chosen to be a donor, she lives on in the lives of at least 70 other people.
Amy was intelligent, loving and generous. Always an honor student, Amy was also a varsity cheerleader at Copperas Cove High School. She received a Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Texas San Antonio and a Master’s Degree from Baylor University in Waco. After graduation she worked in the public schools and private companies as a speech therapist. She had a heart for children and worked hard to help her young patients, many of whom suffered from autism.
She and her husband, Michael, have a sone and a daughter whom she loved dearly. Amy supported her children’s endeavors in baseball and gymnastics as well as encouraging them to be great students in School
After Amy’s death, her parents, John and Margaret Henderson, became very involved with TRIO – Transplant
Recipients International Organization, and worked tirelessly through TRIO to make the dream of “Amy’s House” a reality. Amy’s House is a hospitality house for Central Texas transplant patients and their caregivers during their transplant journey at Baylor Scott & White in Temple.
Sherry Woodard
Blood Donor
Sherry Woodard is a long time blood donor. “I started donating while attending the University of Texas in Austin about thirty five years ago. There was a blood drive going on so my boyfriend, now husband and roommate all went. That was when I found out I had a semi-rare blood type and began donating whenever I could, especially when I was contacted directly.
The reason I continue to donate is because my husband, who has been ICU, trauma and flight nurse along with a volunteer at our local fire/EMS department, has shown me to the urgency of patients who need blood. If it was a family member, friend or neighbor that is in that situation, I would want to help them in whatever way I can. I also found out, not long ago, that my plasma can be used for babies. Who can resist helping babies?!?
I usually give blood at least four or five times a year. I tend to get anemic at times, so am not always able to give. As of my last donation, Baylor Scott & White says I have donated 52 times.
I wish more people understood how donating blood saves lives. I try to recruit others to go with me whenever I can. If nothing else, hopefully they notice the cool t-shirts I get! I am truly and humbly honored to be nominated.
Patti Britz-Stensaker
Searching for a Marrow Donor
Patti Britz-Stensaker was diagnosed in 2012 with Aplastic Anemia. “I was a newlywed, and was told I may only have a year to live. I quickly went into the Hospital in Virginia to receive blood transfusions, platelets, and a treatment called Anti Thymocyte Globulin. I went into remission, but soon after was back in for a 2nd, and even a third treatment. I was told initially that subsequent treatments after the 1st one would more than likely not be successful, but here I am.
Currently, I am a patient at MD Anderson, and being tested and considered for a bone marrow transplant. A search has been performed on the Be The Match Registry and I have two matching donors, as well as my 70-year-old sister.”
We are praying for clarity and results for a decision after my 7th bone marrow biopsy on May 13. Without blood donors, platelet donors, and marrow donors, I would not be here. I am extremely grateful for every single person who takes the time to do the most selfless act and donate. It truly is lifesaving!
Barron Shoemaker
Organ Recipient
Barron Shoemaker, age three, received a heart transplant in March 2020 after he had viral myocarditis which put him into heart failure and cardiomyopathy. Barron spent almost six months at Texas Children’s in Houston waiting for his donor angel heart and had to be put on a Left Ventricular Assist Device called a “Berlin Heart” while he waited for a transplant.
Barron will be four in May and is doing wonderful with his “angel heart.” He and his family will be forever grateful for his second chance at life, the miracle of his heart transplant and God’s will and faith in trusting in Him.
Haelie Pisciotta
Multiple Organ Recipient
Haelie Pisciotta is a vibrant 17-year-old girl that has dreams and goals just like her friends. Some would never know what she has experienced based on her appearance.
Haelie was born with a rare disease known as Metacystic-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome. Due to the severity of the disease, she was brought home on hospice with a life expectancy of six months. Haelie defied those odds.
On July 18, 2005, at the age of 10 months, Haelie received her gift. She received a liver, pancreas, small intestine and colon transplant at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. After many months and years of bad times, good times and times in between, Haelie is enjoying doing her most favorite things, tumbling and powerlifting.
Thanks to the family of her donor for making that difficult decision. Because of that decision, Haelie has had a second chance of life.
Rowan Sebek
Organ Recipient
Rowan Sebek was born with a rare liver disease, Biliary Atresia. By two months old, she had already experienced so many appointments, lab draws, scans and her first major surgery. This surgery, a Kasai Procedure, was unsuccessful in helping her liver to function properly and she was sent to Houston for a liver transplant evaluation.
While there for more imagining and testing, Rowan was admitted to the hospital as she was too sick to wait for a transplant at home. At this point she was unable to tolerate anything by mouth and was on IV nutritional therapy. She was as yellow as a highlighter from the jaundice and at five months old was placed on the list for new liver.
She waited 10 days before receiving her life-saving gift. Within hours the jaundice had cleared and her new liver was functioning perfectly. She is now nearly 12 years old and is thriving. There have been very few hospitalizations since her transplant and she lives her life to the fullest every day.
She continues to have her labs drawn and takes medication twice daily; however, she does not let that slow her down. Rowan participates in club swimming and is eager to swim in the Transplant Games of 2022 to honor her donor. In prior years she was able to participate in the 2018 Transplant Games and would have participated in the 2020 Games should they not have been cancelled.
Rowan is ecstatic her dad is riding in the Lone Star Circle of Life Tour. Our family is forever grateful for her liver donor and their family for this gift.
Luke Ludwig
Organ Donor
At four days old, Luke Ludwig had an anoxic brain injury. His prognosis was bad and doctors had a very low expectation of his survival, or if he would make it through the night.
When he came out of the coma, he didn’t have suck, swallow or gag reflexes. He was able to go home on Christmas Eve but was required to go back to the hospital just six hours later. By New Year’s Eve, he was on a ventilator and then on a “Trach and Peg” (tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy). Luke was diagnosed with obstructive apnea (airway was obstructed). He also had cortical visual impairment and doctors believed he would be blind.
Despite what doctors told his mom, she wanted to do everything she could to give him a chance. She placed Christmas lights on his crib and she noticed that he began tracking them which helped him to focus. Luke was not blind. He was very determined and did most things doctors thought he would never be able to.
At three years old, he began to play soccer on an adaptive team with his wheelchair, except for when he was shooting a goal – then he had to stand up. Luke also played basketball and tried gymnastics. Despite all odds, Luke lived to be eight years-old and proved that he was “a force of nature”. His mom describes him as someone who would never take “no” for an answer, was sweet, loving and very sneaky. Most of all, Luke had a big personality and a giving spirit.
His personality exuded and he was a giving child. He had annual traditions with his mom of donating toys and books, putting change in the Salvation Army can during the holidays and choosing a child to provide gifts for from the Salvation Army Angel tree. And each year, he carefully chose the gifts he would provide that child.
When Luke passed away in November of 2020, his mother, Angie, decided to donate Luke’s organs to spare other moms from the pain she was going through. His personality had so much life. Luke saved the lives of four children through organ donation. Angie says that Luke lives on through the lives of the children he saved.
