A Mother’s Mission: Donor Hero Mom Reaches Youth With Comic Book

What if the most powerful superhero comic book wasn’t about flying or super strength, but about saving and improving lives through organ donation? That’s the idea behind Trina Long’s comic book, “Donor Heroes Are Superheroes,” after the tragic loss of her son, who registered as an organ donor and improved the lives of 543 people. The comic depicts a diverse group of young real-life donor heroes, as colorful superheroes, taking the reader on an activity-filled journey, teaching about organ, eye and tissue donation. Coming off the third edition’s release in January 2026, called the “Warrior Edition”, Trina reiterates that the heart of the comic is simple: every day, people save lives.

Trina Long’s journey to comic book authorship began before she knew it. Her son, Logan, was just like any other active teenage kid, enjoying various outside activities. However, Logan’s perspective on life changed in an instant after a paintball injury caused a loss of sight in his left eye. Following his injury, Logan developed a trauma-induced cataract and underwent surgery to help restore his vision. Unfortunately, the damage was greater than expected. After further testing, it was determined that he would need a cornea transplant. After receiving the gift of sight, Trina and her son talked about organ donation. Grateful for his donor, Logan decided to register to become an organ donor.

“It was out of gratitude for the gentleman who restored his sight that he decided he wanted to register to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor,” says Trina.

Although the journey of becoming a donor family member can be grief-stricken, Trina turned her tears to triumph, leaning on her talents to give back. She began volunteering for the organization that cared for his gifts, Legacy Donor Services Foundation, based in Florida. In 2022, her volunteer work brought her to a library event, where she spoke with parents about organ donation and handed out informational resources. But as the conversations unfolded, she noticed someone else in the room—an audience rarely included in discussions about organ donation and transplantation, yet deeply connected to the issue. “I noticed that there were so many children who had just come out of the reading room, who wanted information. They didn’t know what their parents or their caregivers were receiving; they just wanted something to take home, too. I went home and thought about them. I kept thinking—how do we get this very important, but very sensitive topic in the hands of a child where they could understand,” she said.

That moment stayed with her long after the event, ultimately inspiring the creative approach she now uses to educate others about organ donation and transplantation.

“I knew their information couldn’t be a booklet you printed out and gave to them to read. I think [learning about organ donation] needs to be through activities that touch on the topic they are still learning about as they’re doing activities,” Trina said. She quickly jotted her ideas down on paper and reached out to Legacy Donor Services for guidance. From there, she had the backing of an illustrator and a printer. On October 17, 2022, Trina flipped through the glossy, vibrant pages of the first edition of “Donor Heroes Are Superheroes”. The comic book now serves as a fun, informative resource for local organ procurement organizations, such as Tennessee Donor Services (TDS), which serves 6 million people across Tennessee and Virginia.

“Trina’s activity book has become an incredibly powerful tool in my outreach work because it helps families talk about organ donation in a way that feels hopeful, honest, and accessible for children. At a community event last spring, a grandmother who had received a transplant stopped by my booth and shared how that gift allowed her to still be present for her grandchildren — to keep making memories with them. She picked up the book because it gave her a gentle, age-appropriate way to explain her journey. That moment perfectly captured the impact of donation for me. It doesn’t just save lives — it strengthens families, connects generations, and creates space for meaningful conversations that might not happen otherwise,” said Trisha Lopez, Tennessee Donor Services External Affairs Coordinator.  

Four years later, at the top of 2026, Trina released her third version, the “Warrior Edition,” after taking her time to meet the families of the featured donors. “I’ve either met every one of these individuals, or I’ve met the families of the donors, because I wanted to keep that personal touch. I didn’t just want to tell someone else’s story; I knew their story,” she said. In addition to the animation, the book features QR codes that link to videos of recipients thanking their super donor hero, which she hopes to update every couple of years to mark their progression post-transplant. The latest edition is jam-packed with activities, puzzles, and a maze that gets the gift to the recipient.

“The donations are gift boxes in the book, not organs themselves, because I refer to [donations] as a gift. I know that kids love gifts, and I thought this was a way they could understand [organ donation] as something that is given to you.”

Throughout “Donor Heroes are Superheroes”, the readers meet:

• Real-life donor heroes as characters and learn about the number of lives saved and improved because of their gifts.
• Recipients of donors’ gifts, along with a video thanking their donor hero for saying “yes” to donation.

Trina has learned firsthand how the book has helped young recipients make sense of where the gifts they received come from and understand the process as a full circle. Instead of being heavy and overwhelming, the comic balances emotion with hope, proving that donation is about legacy, love for others, and community. “I learned that some children can be on the waitlist for a very long time. Gabe is in [the book] as a heart recipient. He was on the transplant list for two years before he received his gift. Once his mom received a copy of the book, she said it helped him understand everything full circle. He knew he needed a heart, but what does that mean? Where is it coming from? She said it helped him have a better understanding of how it all works,” Trina said.

Ultimately, Trina believes Logan would be proud of the work she has done. Writing each edition of the comic book has helped her navigate her own grief, giving her a renewed sense of purpose while honoring her son’s life. Through the books she creates, Logan’s memory remains ever-present, continuing to inspire conversations about organ donation and transplantation and reminding others of the lives that such decisions can touch.

Readers interested in learning more or ordering a copy of the comic book can email Trina Long at donorheroes@gmail.com. Everyone is encouraged to register their decision to become an organ, eye and tissue donor at donatelifetn.org.