NASHVILLE, Ga. (WALB) – Right now, more than 100,000 Americans are waiting for a transplant, and every day, around 13 people die while waiting for a suitable organ.

In 2019, Nashville native Emily Paulk, who battled a lung disease for the majority of her life, underwent surgery for a double lung transplant. Less than two years later, she began rejecting those lungs, placing her back on the list for another set.

Emily’s mother, Sarah Paulk said, “Organ donation, to us, was a gift. It was a gift that gave us many more years with Emily that we would have, and it’s a selfless gift.”

While Emily continued to fight at Emory in Atlanta, the city of Nashville signed a proclamation naming August 12, 2024, “Emily Paulk Day” to “Paint the Town Pink” and raise money for her. Emily Paulk passed away in Dec. 2024, leaving behind a legacy of bringing awareness to organ donation.

The promise to honor her life and bring attention to organ donation continues, as the city held its first annual Emily Paulk Day celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.

Sarah Paulk said, “We’re so sad that she’s not here, but we are so full of joy that the city and this wonderful community that we live in has made this day what she envisioned it to be.”

Her parents, Charles and Sarah Paulk, say Emily wanted the day to be about kindness, joy, love and encouraging others to give back to the community.

Hayden Hancock, Nashville City Manager said, “Through that and in my reflection, I think we can all agree that Emily may not have realized what she was teaching all of us through that. To truly live with joy, happiness and courage.”

In 2022, Emily made a commitment with the LifeLink Foundation by sharing her story to inspire new organ donor registrations and celebrate those who have decided to save lives as registered organ and tissue donors, with the launch of a new public education campaign, “The Infinity Campaign.”

“Being the person that says, you know, ‘hey, I want to make sure my life and my story continues.’ That’s what organ donation is all about, your life and your legacy continuing through other people,” Courtney Proctor, Public Affairs Specialist with the LifeLink Foundation, said.

LifeLink said one organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and improve dozens more.

The city of Nashville said the goal is for this annual event to grow beyond South Georgia as they spread important information about organ donation and how we can save lives together.

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