In a shocking incident that has raised serious questions about medical protocols, a Kentucky man, Thomas “TJ” Hoover II, narrowly escaped having his organs harvested after being wrongly declared brain dead.
Hoover, 36, had been admitted to Baptist Health Richmond Hospital in Kentucky in October 2021 following a drug overdose, where doctors initially determined he was brain dead and prepared to harvest his organs.
However, Hoover’s family and several medical professionals witnessed signs that he was still alive during this process. According to organ preservationist Natasha Miller, Hoover began showing signs of life just before the surgery was set to begin. “He was moving around — kind of thrashing.
Like, moving, thrashing around on the bed,” said Miller. Most disturbingly, Hoover was seen crying, with tears visibly rolling down his face.
Hoover’s sister, Donna Rhorer, had already raised concerns about her brother’s condition. She noticed that his eyes were moving as medical staff transferred him from the Intensive Care Unit to the operating room, where his organs were to be removed.
Man comes ‘back to life’ as surgeons began the process of harvesting his body parts after they determined he was de*d
Kentucky man TJ Hoover