Seilah’s Story: West Virginia, Ohio families forever connected by organ donation

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) — Two families who were complete strangers now share so much after a life-giving transaction.

Seilah Stanley was just two years old when she died after a pool incident in her backyard last summer. The little girl loved Disney princesses, catching frogs and showing off her sassy personality.

After days in the hospital, she was pronounced brain dead, and her parents, Logan and Angie, decided to continue her legacy by organ donation. After speaking with the Center for Organ Recovery & Education, the Stanleys gave the green light, which would let their little girl save the lives of others.

“If we weren’t going to be able to have our baby here with us, we wanted a part of her to still be on this Earth,” mother Angie Stanley said, “and if she could save lives, that was the best thing that we could get out of our tragedy.”

Three people benefited from Seilah’s donation, including Shaun Evans, a now two-year-old boy living in Ohio. Her heart is now sustaining his life.

Evans spent his first Christmas and birthday in a hospital room, waiting for the perfect heart to come along.

Just days after Seilah died in 2024, he was given a heart transplant and has been a happy, healthy boy ever since.

In August, the Stanleys and the Evanses got to meet. From the interactions between Shaun and their children to hearing her heartbeat again, the reunion was nothing short of remarkable.

“Meeting Shaun just gave us such a peace in our decision, and it brought everything that we’ve gone through just full circle,” Stanley said. “We were able to hear her heart, and I was able to feel her heart beating through his chest, and it was just so strong and beautiful.”

“It was such an overwhelming and beautiful experience,” she said.

A few days were spent celebrating their miracles together, and the families do plan to spend more time together, sooner rather than later.

Angie Stanley says their tragedy couldn’t have turned out in a more extraordinary way. She says seeing Shaun thriving and his parents thankful really gave her and her husband closure.

And the people now breathing with her organs aren’t the only signs of her gift. Angie says the symbol of a yellow butterfly reminds her of her daughter. So much so, that during her conversation with 13 News, one flew by.

“She’s just with us when I see a yellow butterfly,” she said. “That is her letting us know she is here.”

Anyone interested in learning more about organ donation or signing up can visit their local DMV or CORE here. You can also sign up when receiving your West Virginia Hunting & Fishing License.