The Gift of Life

A Tupelo teacher and student are thriving one year after a much-publicized transplant surgery.

Written by Eugene Stockstill | Photographed by Joe Worthem

Last August, a Tupelo teacher and her 5-year-old student made headlines across north Mississippi when she donated part of her liver to him.

One year later, Bowen Dorr, now 6, is pumped about starting kindergarten at Carver Elementary School in Tupelo, and his former teacher, Holly Allgood, downplays it when asked if she saved his life.

“There’s no other way to put it. Our son was going to die without a liver,” Bowen’s father, Jake, said. “I guess when it will finally sink in is when Bowen is old enough to understand what she did for him.”

Bowen was born with a rare metabolic liver disorder that kept him from processing protein, along with other challenges, including autism. His family knew he’d eventually need a liver transplant. After months of trips to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis and reaching the maximum dosage of special medicine he could take, that day came sooner rather than later.

Enter Allgood, a special needs instructor and Bowen’s teacher at the Early Childhood Education Center in Tupelo, who quickly went to the top of the donor list. There were so many others who wanted to help that UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh had to ask people to stop volunteering.

Jamie and Jake Dorr have borne much more than their share of pain. The Dorrs lost a daughter in utero and a son after his birth. Then after an open adoption that brought Bowen home to them, they began learning to cope.

The Dorrs also have three more children.

When the time came for Bowen to start school, his parents had to learn to trust someone else with their son. Bowen started out with two hours of learning on Fridays, a schedule that gradually expanded.

“Relationships happen first. I work to build that with all my parents and all my students,” Allgood said. “I thought (Jamie) was going to have a heart attack that first day … then she found out that she could peek through the doors anytime she wanted to.”

When Bowen’s medical condition worsened and Allgood discovered the family’s need, she immediately wanted to donate, but her husband wasn’t so sure. After they spent some time considering options, Allgood traveled to UPMC for multiple tests.

Following the surgery to remove 30% of her liver on Aug. 27 last year, she had considerable pain for about a day, mainly because she fell asleep before she could be given an epidural to block post-surgery discomfort. Bowen’s surgery took about 12 hours at UPMC Children’s Hospital. He developed a blood clot and had to be kept on a ventilator for days, and he and his family stayed in Pittsburgh for 100 days.

Bowen returned to Allgood’s class on St. Patrick’s Day.

“When he came back, his little brain and body were soaking up everything that you want him to have to be successful,” Allgood said.

Jake Dorr said his son has not had to make a single trip to Le Bonheur since the surgery.

“He’s doing great,” he said, and the staff at Carver have eased the upcoming transition. “We’re really excited.”

Bowen faces two more surgeries this year, which will also be done in Pittsburgh. He has a hernia and also must have the inner muscle wall closed at the site of last year’s operation.

Asked about her gift, Allgood was soft-spoken.

“I think the Lord had a really awesome plan,” she said. “To be able to do that, I was in the right place at the right time.”

Bowen’s father was much more effusive about the difference one person can make.

“She’s the most humble person you could meet,” he said. “It hasn’t changed our beliefs; it has strengthened them. It has been incredibly redemptive.”