Organ donation "the most comforting part" of WVU student's death, father says

It's been nearly a year since his son died, but TJ Burch said it hasn't set in yet.

"I know that in all likelihood, it never will," TJ Burch told a room full of people at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences Sunday morning.

Burch, father of Nolan Burch, was among the many who attended the fourth-annual "A Special Place" ceremony, which honors the families of organ and tissue donors. The event is hosted by the Center for Organ Recovery and Education.

Nolan Burch, of Buffalo, New York, had just turned 18 last fall when he died after an incident at the Kappa Sigma fraternity house at West Virginia University.

"We just know basically what everybody else knows," TJ Burch said of the incident. "He was out. There was some kind of ceremony. He was fine a little after 9 o'clock and then basically he was gone by midnight, or on life support anyways."

Nolan Burch died after participating in a "Big-Little" ceremony, according to police. Burch and pledges were presented to a senior member who then gave them a bottle of liquor. Investigators said Burch consumed a large quantity of alcohol that night.

WVU officials, along with the Inter-Fraternity Council and Panhellenic Council, placed a moratorium on the entire WVU Greek system following the incident that suspended social and pledging activities.

Results from a medical test showed that Nolan Burch's blood alcohol level at the time of death was well above what health officials consider lethal. Two fraternity members were charged in connection to the hazing incident. His family has filed a lawsuit against the fraternity and the school.

His family knew that Nolan was pledging a fraternity, he said.

"It was college," TJ Burch said. "You just don't ever expect to get a phone call that we got."

What comforts TJ Burch and the rest of his family, though, is knowing that his son's death gave life to others. His donated organs -- both kidneys, his liver and both lungs -- are helping four people live.

"The most comforting part of any of it is that, I think," TJ Burch said. "We just got an update. The recipients are doing well. We heard from one by letter. We haven't spoken or met personally yet, but it really is awesome."

More than 122,000 people are awaiting a life-saving organ and many more are awaiting tissue or a cornea, said Susan Stuart, president and CEO of CORE. About 22 people die each day on the waiting list, she said. In 2014, 154 live-saving organs were donated. More than 11,000 tissue donations were given, as well, she said.

"[Organ donation is] a great way to make a difference in people's lives," Stuart said.

Nolan's grandparents, Kathy and Ronnie Michael, were also among those who attended the ceremony.

"It was so fast; he was away at college," Kathy Michael said of Nolan's death. "But at least we were with him when he passed."

Kathy Michael said she used to babysit for her grandson and his sister and was close with him. She described him as a "very good boy." He drove an ice cream truck, she said. He liked to help other people.

"His one friend said if it wasn't for Nolan, "I don't know if I'd have a friend." He introduced him to other friends," she said.

For Ronnie Michael, the experience doesn't seem real.

"You know, it doesn't seem like he's really gone," he said of his grandson. "It seems like he's still in West Virginia in college, at least to me that's the way it feels. It's just hard."

In Nolan's memory, his family has started the NMB Foundation, which aims to end bullying and hazing. They also advocate for organ donation awareness.

"Donate if you can, absolutely donate," TJ Burch said. "In my eyes, there's just not a reason that you don't. You touch so many lives, it's just unbelievable. If you can do it, it's a great gift that you can give."

Reach Lori Kersey at Lori.Kersey@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1240 or follow @LoriKerseyWV on Twitter.

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