Honoring a hero’s gift: Drew Hazlett’s transplant journey

Every life restored through organ donation carries a story of compassion and sacrifice. Those stories are at the heart of AdventHealth’s mission — and few are more powerful than that of Drew Hazlett.

August was National Minority Donor Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of the critical need for organ donors, especially among diverse communities.

For Drew, every day is a reminder of one of those gifts.

“All it takes is a simple yes. And you can save someone like me.” - Drew Hazlett

In 2017, Drew was a healthy high school senior when doctors discovered that what he thought was the flu was actually a virus attacking his heart. He needed a transplant to survive.

A lifesaving gift came from Kissimmee Police Sgt. Sam Howard, who died in the line of duty in August 2017.

As a registered organ donor, Howard’s final act of service gave Drew a second chance at life.

“I want to live every day to honor Sam,” Hazlett said. “I really try every day to be my best because I know he was. I want him to be proud of me.”

“People like Sergeant Howard are heroes, to have that final act be giving the gift of life to somebody else,” said Dr. Bobby Nibhanupudy, medical director for abdominal transplant at the AdventHealth Transplant Institute and medical director of OurLegacy. “Every single one of them is a miracle.”

For Drew, that miracle means time filled with milestones once thought impossible.

“It's been eight years of lots of blessings and amazing moments that for a time we thought we weren't going to have,” he said. “All it takes is a simple yes. And you can save someone like me.”

Those simple yeses carry extraordinary weight, Dr. Nibhanupudy emphasized, “They provide hope for a lot of people that don’t otherwise have it.”

“[Organ donations] provide hope for a lot of people that don’t otherwise have it.” - Dr. Bobby Nibhanupudy

On the eighth anniversary of his heart transplant, Drew and his family chose to honor Sgt. Howard’s legacy by donating supplies to The Bartch Transplant House. Their gift helps other transplant families find comfort during one of the most challenging times of their lives.

Stories like Drew’s highlight the urgent need for organ donation — and the power of one “yes” to change lives. It is a reminder for all communities to consider registering as donors.

Registering can be accomplished in just a few minutes at Donate Life Florida. One person’s selfless gift can save eight lives.