Teralynn Landis dies

‘If she has a legacy, it is that there is a need for organ donations,’ a family member said.

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Teralynn Landis McGath, 22, whose courage and spunk in the face of three liver transplants before her fourth birthday captured the hearts of Mahoning Valley residents, died Wednesday while undergoing yet another transplant.

The family rushed to the Cleveland Clinic on Tuesday after receiving a call about 5 p.m. notifying them that a liver and kidney were available, said Terrance Landis Sr. of Canfield, Teralynn’s paternal grandfather.

She had known since July 2007 that both her liver and kidneys needed to be replaced, and had been placed at the top of the donor list at the clinic.

“Before the surgery, everyone in the family was crying and worried, but Teralynn was looking forward to it because her quality of life was not there. She was always in pain and fatigued,” Landis Sr. said.

Surgery for the liver transplant started about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday. Complications arose, but then her condition stabilized. The doctors planned to wait until Thursday morning to do the kidney operation, but her heart and lungs gave out, said Debbie Jones, Landis Sr.’s wife.

“Teralynn had a heart of gold. In all of this, she never complained about anything,” Landis Sr. said.

“The family is hurting so bad right now, it’s unbelievable,” he said.

Teralynn, the daughter of Terrance and Kathleen Landis Jr. of Youngstown, was married Oct. 7, 2006, to Allen McGath.

She also leaves her grandmother, Joyce Warren of Boardman; her stepbrother, Gus Seckler of Canfield; and Jones; among others.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Thompson Funeral Home in Boardman.

Teralynn became nationally known as a child, appearing on the “Regis and Kathy Lee” television show. She was invited to a White House reception with the theme of organ and tissue donation, where she made a pitch for two of her friends who needed kidney and bone marrow transplants.

She was a dancer as a child, and attended Poland High School for a couple of years before having to be home schooled to avoid infections. She graduated in 2004.

She was studying online to be a veterinary technician and did pet baby sitting.

“Teralynn loved animals. She had four dogs, they were her babies,” said Jones.

“To know her, you would never know she was sickly. She always had a smile on her face. She was a very strong girl. It was her dream to have children of her own.”

“Even though the outcome was not good this time, I know she would have wanted to promote donating organs. It kept her here for 22 years,” Jones said.

“If she has a legacy, it is that there is a need for organ donations, and to let people know who are grieving that donating organs of their loved ones saved her life three times and could help other people survive,” Jones said.

As a transplant recipient, Teralynn could not get life insurance. So, the Teralynn Landis Memorial Fund has been set up with Cortland Banks to help with funeral expenses. Donations can be made at any Cortland Banks office.

alcorn@vindy.com