JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville family is sharing the emotional experience of watching their loved one take his final walk down a hospital hallway — as an organ donor.
Jeffery Warwick was a P.E. and health teacher of more than 30 years in Duval County Public Schools, a football coach, a church volunteer and, by nearly every account, a man loved by everyone he met.
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“If he knew you, he loved you, and if he loved you, he knew you,” said his wife, Sharon Warwick.
Jeff’s daughter, Julianna Warwick-Jones, recalled him as a unique storyteller.
“We’ve heard them time and time again,” Julianna said.
In late June, Sharon was outside doing yard work when she got off the phone with her husband. Moments later, he called back.
“He called almost right back and said, ‘My pressure dropped,’ and he never said that to me before, so I didn’t know what he meant,” Sharon recalled.
Jeff had suffered a cardiac arrest. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died within the week from an anoxic brain injury.
“Every range of emotion you could think of,” Sharon said, describing that week.
That grief carried into the hallway at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital, where family members, friends, former players and fraternity brothers lined the corridor to honor Jeff during his walk to the operating room. He donated his liver and both kidneys.
“He was so giving in life,” Sharon said, “that he was then able to give organs to people who needed them and continued to live.”
ICU Nurse Daniel New was by the family’s side through some of their hardest moments — taking vitals, giving updates and staying close. He recalled meeting over a dozen family members in his first shift in that room.
“I’ve been to many honor walks and I’ve never seen such a turnout,” New said.
The family and nurse grew so close that the Warwicks made clear New had a standing invitation.
“We’ve pretty much adopted him. He can come home with us any time he wants to,” Sharon said.