Hawkins shares transplant story with students

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THE SONG OF A SURVIVOR:
DONNETTA HAWKINS SHARES TRANSPLANT STORY WITH STUDENTS

Hawkins
Donnetta Hawkins, assistant professor of social work at Lipscomb University, looks at a picture of her donor family which hangs in her office and reflects, “Polly is part of this.” Polly provided the liver that Hawkins needed at 23 years of age due to a lifetime battle with cirrhosis of the liver. Hawkins first met her donor’s family right before her graduation from graduate school. She had known them through calls, letters and pictures before that point. But Hawkins acknowledges that this wife and mother of three played an important role in helping her get to where she is today.

Hawkins also acknowledges the influence of the Lipscomb University faculty in her life. She received her bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb and felt inspired by her professors. “When I was here as a student,” Hawkins states, “there were some faculty who really had an impact on my life.” Their influence brought her back to Lipscomb as a faculty member. “The professors encourage you and care for you and then send you out to be a professional,” Hawkins adds. “I wanted to come and give that back to other students.”

As a professor, Hawkins does give back to her students. She brings a depth to the discussions on caring for the chronically ill that very few people can provide. “I have an edge,” she says. “I’ve been through it. I am able to integrate real life into the classroom.”
Hawkins openly shares her challenges in life with her students at Lipscomb. She discusses dealing with chronic illness as a child and a young adult, suffering from liver complications, living with hearing impairment, and facing death at a young age. Hawkins admits she is a person who has had to struggle in life and she can give future professionals a glimpse into the reality of her hardships. She not only shares with students in her classes, but also visits Dr. Roy Hamley’s Death and Dying class each semester to give a personal account of the range of emotions people face when given the news that they may not survive.

Photos Courtesy Donnetta Hawkins
US Transplant Olympics - Team Middle Tennessee
Hawkins has given back to the community as well. Through previous work with a local hospice and with a hospital transplant unit, she had an advantage when she spoke with patients with a chronic illness or facing a transplant. She, too, had faced the news that she may not survive and that she needed extensive surgery and medical treatment if she did. Hawkins thinks of a female patient who had been told she needed a heart transplant. “It scared her,” Hawkins recalls. “I was able to tell her a little bit of my story and my understanding of her situation. It helped her to see me on the other side of the surgery.”

Hawkins doesn’t let anything in her past slow her down. “My mission,” she claims, “is to go out with a bang. When it’s my turn to leave, hopefully I will have made a difference in someone’s life. I want to leave a good legacy.” She lives out that mission through her teaching. She keeps a log of student comments that reflect the impact she has had on their lives. She tells her story so students can strengthen their skills and compassionately face the challenges of working with the aging (who often face problems similar to those of Hawkins), the chronically ill, or those facing death.

Hawkins resting/striking a pose at the bowling alley where she was competing.
Hawkins’ story is not a grim tale that leaves one in despair. “I don’t want people burdened down with a heavy story,” she adds. “I try to make people laugh. I love humor. That’s part of my ministry.” She also enjoys participating in the US Transplant Olympics when she is able. She competes on the basketball, volleyball, and bowling teams, though she will miss the 2006 games due to knee surgery. The games are very competitive, but they are also about just being there and celebrating life. As she speaks of the participants in the games, Hawkins claims, “We’ve already won. We’ve gotten a second chance in life.”

Hawkins also celebrates her life and her faith through music. Singing is a big part of how she got through many of her trials. She directs her church chorus and sees music as a way to tell what Christ is all about. Her song choices often reflect part of her journey. Hawkins also serves on the board of CAL, Inc., a nonprofit mentoring organization that offers musical opportunities for all children including those who are at-risk.

Hawkins shares her story through her classes, through her competitions, and through her music. She truly gives back to all around her. “That’s why I am here,” she states, “to make a difference.” And she does.

--Chris Pepple