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Mom Denied Request To Donate Son's Organs Save Email Print
Homeless man dies from injuries suffered in beating
Posted: 5:15 PM Jul 21, 2008
 Last Updated: 10:18 PM Jul 22, 2008
 Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com
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A homeless man declared brain dead after being severely beaten was taken off life-support Tuesday afternoon. His mother wants to donate his organs, but the Iowa Medical Examiner's office says an autopsy is essential to the prosecution of the crime.

Jeff Harriman was assaulted in a series of attacks between noon and 3 p.m. on Friday.

A witness told police he saw three men punching and kicking Harriman around his head and hitting him with a piece of wood.

Two transients have been arrested, Charles Armstrong and Mark Foster. The third suspect is being sought.

The Pottawattamie County attorney says he won't make any decisions about possibly changing those charges until Tuesday. The medical examiner says an autopsy is needed to prosecute Armstrong and Foster, but the procedure would make organ donation impossible.

"I told him, it's my son, it's my decision,” Ellie DeBall said Monday. “You have plenty of evidence, you do not need this."

Now she has a fight on her hands, fighting to donate his organs while he is kept on life support, fighting the same people who will prosecute her son's alleged attackers.

DeBall says she's clinging to every minute she has left with Jeff. "I keep going in there and hanging on to him and I prayed and prayed and I even prayed to God that if he let him live and he was a vegetable, I would take care of him. I couldn't even have explained it before now, how bad it hurts. My whole body hurts. My heart is just, it's awful.”

Jeff's friends built a cross on the 1800 block of Broadway after they found him Friday night. "It was a stupid thing to have happen and we thought we could make something positive come out of it,” said DeBall.

"It was heartbreaking, it ripped my heart right out of my chest,” said brother Kevin Harriman.

DeBall says the battle to save Jeff's organs is all but over. She's left now with her son's memories, the last one this past Fourth of July. "He hugged me and hung on to me. It was like he knew. He was like a little lost boy and that was the last time I seen him."

Organs from one person can save up to eight people. The Nebraska Organ Recovery System says they've had this happen before. Other states allow them to be in the room while the autopsy is performed and to harvest the organs while the autopsy is taking place. Iowa declined to do this.
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Posted by: Patrick on Jul 24, 2008 at 06:46 PM
To my detractors: There is a difference between legal truth and real truth. E.g. a criminal may be found innocent of a crime he really committed. So he's legally innocent, even while in reality he's guilty. Even if evidence surfaces later that conclusively proves his guilt, he will remain innocent by law. So when you tell me I'm misinformed, you are hiding behind the legal definition of brain dead, because you deny the truth. For example, why does 'to Patrick' say, "His brain is dead," and then later say, "This man has only enough brain function to keep his heart pumping..."? THERE's a contradiction: a functioning dead brain! And why would Chris say the patient "is anesthetized to ensure that no pain is felt… "? The dead feel pain? No, anesthesia is for the REALITY of brain death, not the legal definition. You say brain dead is dead, so you don't have to deal with the hard realities of the choices people have to make. Remember the social comment of Rollerball, 1975.
Posted by: Ashley on Jul 24, 2008 at 06:25 PM
This situation is very upsetting and ridiculous. If other states can harvest the organs and do the autopsy why can't we? So many lives could be saved. Just think about all those people out there that need a transplant and the families that are waiting for that (unfortunate as it may be) opportunity so that another person has the chance to live. They have such a small chance in finding a match already. How would you all feel if someone close to you needed a transplant and their chance is made even smaller because of this law.
Posted by: Chris on Jul 24, 2008 at 05:25 AM
Dear Anon@4:25, you must have obtained your medical degree from Wikipedia. Their definition of brain death is decidedly biased, and you really should look at more professional media. Hence, you are wrong. For example, a person may be declared brain dead while their heart is still beating on its own. The Wikipedia page actually contradicts itself at the end. Under the final heading, Organ donation, the last sentence of the brain death definition states, "If a brain-dead individual is not an organ donor, ventilator and drug support is discontinued and cardiac death is allowed to occur." What? Cardiac death? After brain death? How can that be if brain dead means dead? Well, simply, it can't. Brain dead is a legal definition, and the lawmakers didn't tell our hearts they're supposed to stop beating by themselves. Basically, when unplugged, the person is left to suffocate. I'm sorry to mess up you neat, clean world, anon, but life isn't as simple as you want it to be.
Posted by: Cappy on Jul 24, 2008 at 04:43 AM
The brother from Florida hasn't been heard from. I wonder why?
Posted by: anon on Jul 23, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Annette- there was a story on the Today Show about a homeless man who has become one of the leading brain surgeons in our country. A big step for a mental case, don't you think?
Posted by: Did U Ever Think on Jul 23, 2008 at 07:18 AM
Did u ever think that perhaps this man lived on the streets cause he didn't want to be a bother to people...have you ever got evicted from an apt here in omaha i have and now i can't get an apt here in Omaha as I had an family emergency that prevented me from paying rent I had a 22 month old Granddaughter that was given took much of a medicine after surgery that made her brain dead and I chose to be with her (in another state) which prevented me from paying rent and now no plce here in Omaha will rent to me. So to everyone with bad comments unless you have been through a hardship keep your negitive comments to yourself.
Posted by: Keith on Jul 22, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Interesting. The latest article said he was removed from life-support Tuesday afternoon and died. Some say brain dead is the same as dead, then why do we call it life-support? We used to think life ended when the heart stopped, but now we routinely revive people after heart attacks. Now we say brain dead means dead. I wonder what the future will teach us. It is the height of arrogance to assume what we know today is all there is to know. Today's most sacred knowledge will be tomorrow's jokes.
Posted by: T on Jul 22, 2008 at 10:39 PM
This is a horrible situation!! my heart goes out to the family and my prayers for all of the people who talk mean about these people! no one knows thier situation so how can someone judge???
Posted by: Unidentified on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:59 PM
Again, speaking as someone that has been in this situation... we can't blame the family for his housing situation. There are sometimes more involved that what meets the eye. Maybe they didn't have room. Maybe he declined the opportunity to stay with his mother. Don't blame her for his choices.
Posted by: WOW on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:55 PM
First off my prayers are with the family. Seconally why do all you people put things into a story?? Where in the story does it say he was mentally ill, a drug addict or stealing from his mom? perhaps this man liked being out doors. It was a shame that he was beaten up to the point of death and eavn sadder that his body parts can't be donated for organ donor which is a very good thing to do. BTW Brain dead and being dead are not the same thing close but not exactly.
Posted by: to anon on Jul 22, 2008 at 04:25 PM
declared "brain dead" and just "dead" are the same thing. brain death is actual death - the brain stem has no blood flow in it and is no longer telling the heart to beat and lungs to breath. Machines are doing that work. Turning off the machines would mean those functions would cease - but the heart and lungs need to be functioning to harvest organs. Therefore "brain death" is a declaration of death while the machines are on so organs can be harvested.
Posted by: Jess on Jul 22, 2008 at 04:10 PM
To Annette in regards to your comment about the mentally ill - get a life. Not everyone who is mentally ill should be in a institution. Back in the day they also gave people lobotomies..think we should bring those back too?
Posted by: Outsider on Jul 22, 2008 at 02:56 PM
How can anyone judge this mother, maybe the son stole from her too many times, maybe he was an alcoholic, maybe he decided to go on his own. Don't call her a bad parent because this man looks like he is old enough to make his own decisions.
Posted by: Jen on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:20 PM
To those of you who are questioning the family for not letting him live with them, for one, this man was an adult who was capable of taking care of himself and secondly, as hard as it is to believe in this day and age, some people choose to be homeless. Please leave your negative comments towards this family to yourself and stop assuming you know the circumstances.
Posted by: Donnie on Jul 22, 2008 at 11:48 AM
While my heart goes out to the family, I don't understand their issue. What do they want more, there son's killers to be convicted in his murder or his organs to be donated? If the prosecuters are telling them that they need these organs to complete their case they had better listen. Getting these men(animals) off the street is more important than donating his organs. Believe me, if they donate the organs and lose the case, the family will be the first ones to complain of injustice, even though they had been informed of the risks.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Okay, maybe I'm wrong on this one, but I think you have to declared dead - not brain dead before they harvest your organs. This means the monitors have to be shut off, and the person is deceased. Yes this man was homeless, and while I don't want to start an uproar I trust that all necessary means will be taken to verify the organs are safe for transplant. The mother is trying to do something good in a very horrible situation, and I trust that our medical community will take all steps necessary to ensure the safety of all people involved. It's not for us to judge why she didn't open here door to her son. My prayers to the family during this difficult time.
Posted by: Essie on Jul 22, 2008 at 11:23 AM
C'mon people - get a clue! The victim was beaten up - he's probably got injuries throughout his body and many, if not all, of his internal organs could have sustained damage and might not be transplantable anyway. The Medical Examiner needs to know the extent of the man's internal injuries to know if he died from the beating or if there was something else -i.e. heart disease, cancer, etc.- to determine if he's got a chargeable murder case. As far as Mom is concerned, have some compassion, she just lost her son -homeless or not (and it sounds like it was his own choice if you saw the news report-does that choice negate her responsibility for her son's remains? No it doesn't.) I understand her desire to try to keep a part of her son alive by donating his organs but I also see the ME's desire to put these guys away if they did indeed murder this man. Who is she to determine if he has enough evidence to convict? Goes to show that sometimes there is no "right" way and it is a very sad thing.
Posted by: Laura on Jul 22, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Troy: How can you judge the mother? Her son could have had a problem with addiction and refused help. A good parent cannot enable their adult child with an addiction, and if that's the case, he made the choice in his life. Just because he wasn't living with her didn't mean she didn't love him. She's right, something good should come out of this tragedy. Why can't the government officials cooperate in order to possibly save 8 other lives??
Posted by: anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 at 11:14 AM
it's insane how the goverment again can take control of a persons life even when close to death, the family should be able to donate his organs if that's thier wishes. Anyone else think enough is enough? Sheeeessh
Posted by: Annette on Jul 22, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Once again I say: Most homeless people are mentally ill and should be in institutions or some sort of care facility. Back in the 50's and 60's they thought that the mentally ill should live out among society. We were wrong. They need to be cared for on a full time basis.
Posted by: Lori on Jul 22, 2008 at 10:12 AM
If Nebraska can conduct an autopsy at the same time organs can be salvaged for donation, why doesn't the mother transport him to a Nebraska hospital? Of course, complete life support transport will probably run a pretty penny, even if just for a few miles.
Posted by: to Patrick on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:48 AM
First of all, they won't keep him "alive" to do the autopsy, that's the whole point. Second of all, I use the word "alive" loosely, because this man is not alive. His brain is dead, which means he is dead. In fact, once he is taken off life support and a death certificate is issued, the time of death will be the date/time that he was declared brain dead. This man has only enough brain function to keep his heart pumping and NO MORE. I've never understood the mindset of those who are against organ donation, but I guess this is it.
Posted by: laroyce on Jul 22, 2008 at 09:02 AM
brain dead is a medical condition that means means the body is still alive only thru the help of machines. There is nothing functioning except the automatic body functions. This can happen for only a short time before the organs are no longer viable. Thousdans of people are dying evryday because enough people don't put on their licenses or other paperwork that they would like to be donors. and to patrick--the ME can't do an autopsy and then donate the organs because there can't be blood flowing during the autposy. Get a clue before you rant away.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 22, 2008 at 08:55 AM
We were able to donate my dad's organs and then they performed an autopsy afterward which was saved for a criminal trial ... i'm assuming that any organs injured in the attack aren't viable for donating and can be part of the autopsy. All they do at autopsy is state "liver and kidneys are missing" and continue to assess the rest of the organs. This was in Omaha though, sounds like Iowa needs to get their act together.
Posted by: jeff on Jul 22, 2008 at 08:32 AM
wow come on it is not a big deal. The guys was homeless. If the mom really felt bad for him why did she not help him out. Come on.
Posted by: Biff on Jul 22, 2008 at 07:51 AM
Troy - I'm guessing you're not a parent. After a certain age (and I'm guessing that Mr. Harriman was beyond it), parents need to let their kids live their own lives, come what may. Besides, you and I have NO CLUE what their relationship was like. His mother could've tried to let him live with her, and maybe he wanted to make his own way in this world. This whole story is sad - I hope the mother is able to find peace. My condolences.
Posted by: Steve on Jul 22, 2008 at 07:44 AM
Seems suspicious. Brother lives in town and can't seem to open his home to his brother? Mother is all teary-eyed but didn't make any effort save her son from this homelessness? Maybe there are two more murderers?
Posted by: JRTM on Jul 22, 2008 at 07:37 AM
I am so sorry for this family. To attempt a kindness in their time of grief is commendable. Life is a precious gift that needs to be prosecuted for taking away and celebrated for giving. The ME could certainly work with the transplant team to harvest what organs were not damaged after life support is removed. Part of the organ harvesting process is inspection of the organs- all the ME needs to do if the organs are in good enough condition to donate. Maybe there is more to the story that the ME is not telling, we will probably never know. But prayers to the family for this difficult time.
Posted by: Chris on Jul 22, 2008 at 07:37 AM
Patrick, you need to get a life or at least an education. The donor is treated the same as any other patient and is anethsitized to ensure that no pain is felt in case he/she can still feel pain. you should stop posting comments based on late night horror films.
Posted by: Wake Up on Jul 22, 2008 at 07:17 AM
As for the Mom not being able to let her son live with her how do you know where the Mom lives or if it was possible that she let her son live with her? Are you saying that she's a bad mother? Sounds like she wants to do the right thing and donate. She just lost a son people.
Posted by: slr on Jul 22, 2008 at 06:57 AM
this is not the frist time for mark foster to assult someone he did the same thing to my uncle back in april where my uncle was fighting for his life he made it through but will never be the same .my question is why was he out of jail to do it again and this time it was murder. homeless man or not he's stll a human being....he stills sonmeone baby.. where was the justice system....
Posted by: PS on Jul 22, 2008 at 06:51 AM
I cant understand, where was this man's family when he needed a place to stay. Maybe if they had let him stay with them he would not have been homeless and maybe he would be alive today.
Posted by: Josh on Jul 22, 2008 at 06:25 AM
In my defense, this story had nothing to do with organ donation when I made my comment. It was just about two homeless men beating another to death. I stand by what I said about the homeless. These people are homeless by choice. You all told me to walk a mile in their shoes, when I was young I was on drugs and slept at friends houses and had no place of my own. Then I decided to get my head screwed on and went back to school and clean up my act. Years later now I have a great job and am clean. These men could start out by working a job like McDonalds or something, they just don't want to, so I don't feel sorry for them. ANON, I said nothing about taxes.I still don't see any of you offering to help the homeless where you live. Keep them downtown right? Out of sight, out of mind.
Posted by: Bill Davis on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:40 AM
Don't forget how our "Justice" system works. The suspects are arrested, charged with murder and go to trial. The upstanding defense attorney argues that the victim was severely beaten but the actual cause of death was a drug overdose or heart failure. Can they convince the jury and make a case for "reasonable doubt". The answer is NO if the prosecutor has the results of the autopsy. Maybe this victim would not be homeless or dead if someone had cared about his organs last week,last month or last year..
Posted by: jln on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:33 AM
Patrick you are very misinformed. Brain death is both medically and legally recongnized as a cause of death. The following website provides the legal definition of brain death in the state of Nebraska. http://www.braindeath.org/law/nebraska.htm
Posted by: Unidentified on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:20 AM
How dare you Josh. Just because someone is homeless, doesn't mean they are bad people. I've been there... My family was there not too long ago and with a small child no less. It has taken all we could put forth to stay out of that situation. If it weren't for the churches and other caring individuals, I would still be in that situation. Just because someone is homeless doesn't mean they are a bad person. Bad people make bad decisions no matter what their housing situation. These two transients are no exception. They were just bad people. God bless the victim and his mother. I pray the state of Iowa will allow some good to come out of this terrible situation.
Posted by: Patrick on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:15 AM
This is just sick! It's another sad reminder. The term "brain dead" is a label put on people so we can take their organs while they are still alive. And some states allow autopsies first? That means doctors are in him, digging around, cutting up tissue and organs for clues, then cutting out tissue and organs for donation, all while the guy is alive! Then they simply pull the plug and let him die. How unceremonious of them. Oh, what monsters we have become in the name of compassion.
Posted by: jln on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:12 AM
Let's not miss the point of this story. This about a family, who has lost a loved one, thinking of others. Organ donation is a very precious gift. The fact that the Iowa state medical examiners office is being so unreasonable about this is a tragedy. Iowa residents, you need to stand up and make it clear to your elected official that this should not be allowed. Every effort should be made to make donation a reality for every family. My family has been touched by the miracle of organ donation. The refusal of the medicial examiner to allow donation affects more than just this family. It also affects those people whose lives could be saved by transplant. If the medical examiner truly believes releasing for donation will compromise this case, they are in in serious need of some education on the subject.
Posted by: Anonymous 2 on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:03 AM
Anonymous, WHAT? - it was a group of homeless men beating down one of their own. There's Nothing to clean up. You should try actually READING the artical before commenting.
Posted by: Jennifer on Jul 22, 2008 at 01:00 AM
Okay first off you all should be ashamed of yourselves. This story is not about them being homeless, it's about a mother wanting to do the right thing and donating his organs but the stupid government wants what they want first. And second, I live around 18th and broadway and know Jeff, he has passed by my home a few times and has said Hi when I've been outside, He was a nice man and was always very talkative. I don't care that he was a homeless man, that didn't matter, he was polite and a human being, which so far you posters only care about them being homeless. I agree Foster and Armstrong are now in a place that's better and they should be back on the street in a cage outside to face the weather for what they did to Jeff, but this is about Jeff more than them. Have a heart, I was out on the street as a young adult too, and it's not fun having people like you think we are scum because of rough times, and my reason for being there isn't your business.I hope CB does the RIGHT thing
Posted by: troy on Jul 22, 2008 at 12:56 AM
so mommy's son is homeless, and she wants to donate organs. maybe I'm just goofy, but she didn't have enough ambition to let him live with her, so why does she get to decide what to do with the body?
Posted by: Leon on Jul 22, 2008 at 12:55 AM
If the M.E. doesn't want cooperate with the transplant team then M.E. doesn't get his organ review. All the ME is going to look for is deep bruising, organ damage and broken bones. All worthless when the COD is head trauma leading to brain death. If any of the organs were damaged enough to have cause his death they would not be harvested anyway. Suck it UP M.E. play ball or lose out.
Posted by: Technomama on Jul 21, 2008 at 11:45 PM
This is not about transients. This is about a mother wanting something good to come from a tragedy. Think before you speak/write! We are all but one life changing event from being homeless.
Posted by: john on Jul 21, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Josh,Walk a mile in thier shoes... I pray that you dont have to some day. Show some compassion. There will always be the rich and poor.
Posted by: ANON on Jul 21, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Very narrow minded people. Did you read the artical Josh. He was homeless. That means they have no where to call HOME. Unfortunately people like you have never walked in their shoes. I hope if it ever happens to you or someone close to you the church will be there to give you some comfort. This has nothing to do with you and where you live. Move if you don't like it. This man was beaten to death. Two Cents. Where is your compassion? Too worried about where your tax $ goes. Why don't you contact your legislature and see if you can change that. Again, has nothing to do with you or your taxes. Bring these two men to justice. I pray for the victim. I'm sure he'll find a home in heaven.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 21, 2008 at 09:15 PM
A sad pastime is to beat up the homeless. It is a sick trait, and should be punished heavily. Council Bluffs needs to clean up its act!
Posted by: Bill on Jul 21, 2008 at 08:09 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong but Jesus Christ was homeless wasn't he..?
Posted by: Two Cents on Jul 21, 2008 at 07:03 PM
Jail is to good for these guys. See if they can take what they dished out. Only thing we got to pay for then is the trial and the burial!
Posted by: Josh on Jul 21, 2008 at 06:51 PM
They are homeless, the article says they are transients. While they're at it, they should throw the rest of them in jail too. I'm sick of bums asking me for change. I'm even more sick of seeing these church vans feeding these losers right in downtown Omaha. Why don't they feed these people at their churches? Because they don't want them around their neighborhoods. I live downtown and don't want them in my neighborhood either. I DARE these "caring" people to offer their handout services where THEY live.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 21, 2008 at 06:17 PM
The culprits look like they're homeless themselves!!! These men are scum.
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