Molly McCullough/ Dallas News

Have a Heart; Local organ recipients increase awareness many people think about, but few people do it, organ donations are a matter of life and death to some. This month marks the 50th year of successful organ transplantation in the United States.

Allan Kear, 15, of Flower Mound was one of those people whose life was hanging in the balance of whether or not he receive a new heart shortly after being born. His mother, Diane Ham, said Kear needed a new heart due to a birth defect that left Kear's left ventricle of the heart nonfunctioning.

Ham said Kear became the first newborn to have a heart transplant in Texas.

Ham said Kear has been using his new heart to the fullest degree for an active teenager. Kear said the only things Kear is not able to participate in is full contact sports like hockey and football.

Ham said her son doesn't really like to talk about being an organ recipient but opens up at the right times to help educate people about the need for organ donation.

"He talks about it, but in the same vein it is one of those things that make him different and he doesn't like that about it," Ham said.

Both Kear and Lewisville resident Meaghan West have the chance to participate in the Dallas Mavericks' Organ Donor Game on Dec. 14. The Mavericks' organization has invited 50 children from around the state who are organ recipients to stand on the court and represent the 50th anniversary of organ transplants. Pat Summerall of Southlake, a sports commentator and liver recipient, also will participate during the half-time show to thank donor families and encourage spectators to be organ donors.

Pam Silvestri, community educator for Southwest Transplant Alliance, said they feel really "lucky" to be involved with the Maverick's organization for this event.

"The real goal here, bottom line, is to show the fans...that these kids are like any others and it's all because someone gave a gift," Silvestri said.

Kim West, mother of Meaghan, said her daughter is also looking forward to participating in the Mavericks' halftime show.

"She's very excited about the basketball game," Kim said.

Meaghan and her father, Michael, are both heart recipients.

Both father and daughter had a genetic disease called cardio myopathy which means that the heart is correctly formed but has a weak muscle.

Meaghan, who is now a healthy 6-year-old, was the first of the pair to receive her heart transplant around the age of one.

"She is aware that when she was a baby she was sick and an angel gave her a new heart," Kim said.

Kim said she plans to teach her daughter more about what happened to her when she was a baby. However, Kim said this explanation will do for now at her young age. Kim added that her daughter already has enthusiasm for talking to others about being an organ donor.

"She does understand that she's a special kid and that doesn't happen to everybody," Kim said. "I think she knows she can make a difference."

Kim said Meaghan was very aware of what happened when her dad needed a new heart almost two years ago.

"She constantly was pulling his [Michael's] shirt down to make sure the scarwas still there to make sure he really got his new heart," Kim said.

Now Kim said Meaghan is expecting an angel to give a special present to her mom as well.

"She continually asks me when I am going to get mine," Kim said.

More than 86,000 nationwide are on the transplant list, 5,600 of those are Texans. Silvestri said at least 17 people die everyday waiting for a transplant.

Both Silvestri and Ham said they encourage people to talk about the possibility of being an organ donor with their family. Ham said that it would even help the grieving process for families, despite their decision to be an organ donor or not, by knowing that they are carrying out their loved one's decision.

"When a family is in the middle of a tragic loss, they are not as likely to think about it as they would rationally," Ham said.

Silvestri said around 25,000 people receive organ transplants every year from 6,000 donors. She said that more people can give the gift of life just by making a simple decision.

"It's such a selfless gift, that the more people do this, the better," Kim said.