ERMS teacher donates 60% of her liver to a stranger, inspires with her story

May 18 marked the year-anniversary of East Ridge Middle School social studies teacher Maureen Tyra’s inspiring act. Tyra donated
60% of her liver to a stranger, a young man who would not be alive today without her gift.

She recently met the man who received her liver (see image #2 - Tyra and his transplant doctor). While Tyra wants to deflect attention from herself, she knows firsthand the importance of sharing stories about organ donation.

Tyra decided to be a donor after reading about a woman’s need in the News-Times. Tyra says, “The motto in my family growing up was, ‘if you have, you give.’ My kids were grown; I was healthy.”

Despite a significant scar, which Tyra’s grandchildren love to touch, Tyra is doing great. On a recent ERMS Global Running Day, Tyra is skipping, walking, and running with her students and colleagues. In fact, she would like to donate again (she’s not eligible).

Her nephew calls her a “Sliver of a Liver Giver.”

Find more information about being an organ donor at Yale-New Haven Hospital.