Helps others keep living through organ donation
A Jones County family who has given decades of service to their community by saving lives and property as Fire/Rescue volunteers are receiving comfort with the knowledge that a beloved family member will continue to help others.
The honor walk for Brett Lee McMichael took place Saturday after he was removed from life support, as is the tradition to honor organ donors. He and his family were surrounded during the procession by friends and members of their biological and firefighting family and community.
Brett’s mother Karen — former Jones County emergency management director who was recognized last year for 40 years of service as a Jones County volunteer firefighter — and his best friend, Thomas Coleman, Jones County Fire Chief, sat down for an interview July 11 to talk about him.
Karen’s first statement was that Brett was a man of God. She recalled that he completed his first step of firefighter training before he was 18, and he continued to be a fire/rescue volunteer for the next 35 years.
Thomas said he had ordered Brett’s 35 years of service plaque for the upcoming Jones County First Responders Appreciation dinner that will take place next month.
In addition to his mother’s volunteer service, Brett’s father Glenn has been a volunteer firefighter for 44 years.
Karen said Brett and his brother Jason grew up in East Juliette coon hunting and swimming in the river. At the time they attended school, they had the choice of attending either Jones or Monroe County Schools.
She said Brett graduated from Mary Persons and owned a grading business until going to work for Butts County Road Department in 2006. He was married to wife Donna, and the couple had one son, Landon.
Karen said her family considers Thomas, who grew up with the McMichael brothers, their middle child.
“Brett grew up learning to help people,” the chief said.
Karen recalled that in addition to his firefighting service, Brett was a Boy Scout leader, although he never joined as a boy. He saw his son all the way through the program to Eagle Scout.
Brett and his father took care of cutting the grass and taking care of the cemetery for Juliette Methodist Church. Karen said they also cut the grass for the Baptist church.
He and Glenn were working in the cemetery of the Methodist church June 26 when the accident that ultimately took Brett’s life occurred.
“They were always doing things for the church,” the mother said.
Coleman said there were three volunteers working in the cemetery, including Glenn, when the top of a tall granite obelisk marker fell on Brett. The three men were attempting to straighten the leaning 1905 marker.
“They were trying to get it straight but were not aware that the top of the marker was not connected. It was only held in place by its weight,” Coleman explained.
He said Glenn immediately called 911 as others began rendering aid. Help started arriving in five minutes.
“If Glenn hadn’t made that call, Brett would not have survived this long.”
Coleman said they knew Brett’s injuries were devastating, but they remained hopeful, praying for a miracle. He posted updates for first responders every day.
The family dodged another loss the following Monday when Karen fell asleep at the wheel of her vehicle while driving home from the hospital. She had been staying at the hospital with very little sleep since Brett’s accident happened.
The mother was a mile and a half from home when she hit a power pole. She had to be extracted through the windshield of the truck and transported to the hospital but survived the crash with only a few cuts and bruises.
Most difficult decision
After Brett was on life support for over a week, the family had to face the reality of that being his only possible future. Karen said the doctors explained there was no hope for a recovery, and they made the joint decision to take him off life support.
“He would not want this,” the mother said. “We know several people will live on because of him, and whoever gets his heart will have to tell it to slow down.”
Coleman said he previously had the honor of watching the process of harvesting the organs from a donor and said it was an awesome experience. He said the doctors treat the donor with reverence and respect. He said it is coordinated with the recipients, and teams of couriers stand ready to make sure each donation is successful.
The chief said the support the family has received from the community, fellow first responders and county has been amazing. He said donations have poured in from everywhere.
“For someone who never got out of Juliette, Brett touched a lot of people, and now his legacy will live on.”
Karen said she was aware her son was an organ donor, and the family will be notified of how many lives Brett’s donations save.
“That will make this mama heart feel a lot better,” she added. “We will say so long, not goodbye, because we will see him again someday.”
