Decade after 2-year-old's death, her organ donor recipient living with healthy lungs
Wyatt Linderman is an organ donor recipient success story and pays tribute every year to his donor.
Wyatt Linderman is an organ donor recipient success story and pays tribute every year to his donor.
Wyatt Linderman is an organ donor recipient success story and pays tribute every year to his donor.
It's been a decade since a two-year-old girl was murdered in Ohio, but her father's act of organ donation saved another life.
The little boy who received Kinsley Kinner's lungs is now 10 years older.
At Springboro Cemetery, Kinner's headstone is decorated for Halloween.
The little girl is forever two years old, but part of her lives with Wyatt Linderman.
"Sometimes I cry because I start talking about her story," 12-year-old Wyatt said.
In 2015, Kinner was murdered by her mother's boyfriend. Bradley Young was sentenced to life in prison. Rebekah Kinner was sentenced to 11 years for her part in Kinsley's death.
Hundreds of people attended the 2-year-old's funeral and candlelight vigils. In Kinsley's death, another family was given a second chance.
"We wouldn't be where we are today without Kinsley and her father's choice," Jordan Linderman, Wyatt's mother, said.
Kinsley's father, Scott Senft, made the decision to allow his daughter's organs to be donated.
"He was a really good father, and he loved her to death and this tore him up," Terry Senft said.
But his choice to allow organ donation saved a little boy's life.
"He [Wyatt] is the recipient of Kinsley's lungs. So we always try to keep her memory alive the best that we can," Jordan said.
Every year around Kinsley's birthday, Wyatt and Jordan visit her grave. They're often joined by Kinsley's dad and family, like her great-grandmother Terry Senft.
"They're like our family now, we feel like they're a part of us," Senft said.
Wyatt and Kinsley's dad, Scott, first met in 2015. Today, they're even closer.
"He loves being friends with Wyatt. They get along great," Senft said. "He got him a mini bike and took it to Wyatt."
With Kinsley's donated lungs, Wyatt plays soccer and basketball.
"I want to be a doctor or athlete, but if that doesn't work out, then a doctor, like heart or lung [doctor]," Wyatt said.
Even with doctor visits over the years, the seventh-grade student is growing up healthy.
Kinsley's organ donation is forever a gift.
"It changed my life because she gave me the way of living, and I wouldn't really be here today without her lungs and her family making that decision," Wyatt said.
He's living proof of an organ donation success story. Linderman played on Team Ohio in the Transplant Games last year and plans to compete in Denver in 2026.
