A talented musician, Max created drum cadences that continue to be performed by his high school band,
When 18-year-old Max passed away following an auto accident, the world lost a talented young man. Yet, Max’s legacy lives on – both through his incredible music and his gift of sight.
As a high school student in Kansas, Max discovered a passion for music. He was the captain of his school’s drum line and played percussion in two church praise bands, so it was no surprise when the talented teen received a college scholarship to study music education.
While his talent defined much of who he was, it was his caring spirit that truly impacted those around him. Said his mother, Pam, “One year he found out that a disabled kid in his youth group wouldn’t be able to go to camp if he didn’t have someone along to help him, and Max dropped everything and volunteered so that kid wouldn’t miss out on camp. He didn’t let me tell anyone about that while he was alive – that was typical Max.”
After his death, Max’s high school classmates chose to honor his memory through his music. Throughout the 2010 football season, the marching band performed one of Max’s arrangements at every home game during which the drum line played his cadence while the rest of the band got down on one knee. “It made me cry every time,” Pam shared.
In addition, a memorial in Max’s name raised funds to purchase a marimba, a large percussion instrument, for his former high school. For years, the nine high schools in his school district have passed one marimba back and forth. Now his alma mater has its own instrument for performances.
A Gift that Lives on
When Max lost his life, his parents had to make the agonizing decision whether or not to donate his eyes, organs and tissues. Although they had never previously discussed donation with their son, his parents chose to donate his corneas to help others regain their sight. It was only after the decision was made did his parents learn that Max had indeed signed his driver’s license to be a donor.
For Pam, knowing Max continues to help others through donation has been a light during the grieving process. “Through discussion boards for parents who’ve lost children, I’ve seen so many parents who regret not making the choice to donate. But at the time, you think of your child as a person who still needs things like eyes and organs. I felt if we were going to lose him anyway, I wanted something good to come out of it.”
Because of Max’s gift, two individuals – one in Missouri and one in California – underwent corneal transplants to restore their vision. Like the hundreds of people he touched in his 18 years, these gentlemen’s lives are better because of Max.
Remarked Pam, “I pray that the people who received the gift of his eyes will be blessed by knowing that Max saw life through those eyes, and more importantly, we saw that deep, sweet soul that belonged to Max through them.”
Nolan never thought he could be an eye donor, but his gift helped another man see.
Nolan understood the challenges of blindness and the miracle of organ donation. For 11 years, his mother, who lost her eyesight to glaucoma, lived with Nolan and his wife, Wanda. He also had a cousin whose life was saved thanks to a liver transplant.
When Nolan passed away in 2009, Wanda and their children made the decision to donate his eyes for corneal transplantation through Saving Sight. Remarked Wanda, “We had talked about organ donation, but he didn’t think he could donate because he had different things wrong with him. When we learned he could donate his eyes, it was a blessing. I thought about the eye problems his mother had, and knew he could help someone else out with his gift.”
Though he left this world too early, Nolan had lived a full life in Missouri. After serving in the army as a paratrooper, he went on to work as a door-to-door milkman, manager of a gas company, and eventually owner of his own heating and cooling business. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and woodworking, and held the years, from Sunday school superintendent to song leader to deacon. Nolan was also a talented musician, playing in several bands, including one with his two children.
Nolan was especially known for his wonderful sense of humor. “We never went without laughter in our home,” said Wanda. “He had a big booming laugh that you could hear from the front door to the back of the house. He found humor in almost every aspect of life, and people really enjoyed being with him because of it. He genuinely cared for others, and they knew that.”
A few months after his passing, Wanda was introduced to Nolan’s recipient through a heartfelt thank you letter. The family received the letter at Christmastime, telling them of the recipient’s transplant journey and touching the family in a way they couldn’t have imagined.
“Nolan was a great blessing to the recipient’s life. This man was so thankful. He is only 52 with lots of time to be able to do something good in the world, so it helps a lot that he can see.”
Because of Wanda’s donation experience, she encourages others to register as eye, organ and tissue donors in Missouri and has made the pledge herself to give the gift of sight. “I told my kids, because I gave Nolan’s eyes, you have to give my eyes too. I can’t hold mine back. Donation makes such a difference in someone’s life.”
Gordon gave the gift of sight to two individuals through the miracle of corneal transplantation.
Like many individuals, Gordon registered to become an eye, organ and tissue donor, but as he got older, he wondered if age and health issues would prevent him from fulfilling his pledge.
However, when he passed away in November 2009, Gordon gave the gift of sight to two individuals through the miracle of corneal transplantation.
Said his wife of 32 years, Mary Jane, “Gordon would joke with us saying, ‘when something happens to me, my parts wouldn’t be of use to anyone.’ When we found out he could be an eye donor, it was such a blessing for our family. It is wonderful to know that my husband and my children’s father lives on through two other people.”
A father to four, grandfather to three and great-grandfather to two, Gordon spent his life helping others. He served in the Vietnam War as a helicopter crew chief before returning to Illinois to work as both a truck driver and a correctional officer. After he retired, Gordon didn’t slow down – he began serving his community as the Mayor of the Village of Harvel, Ill. In his spare time, according to Mary Jane, he enjoyed motorcycle riding, woodworking and gardening.
A few months after Gordon’s death, Mary Jane received a letter from Heartland Lions Eye Banks, sharing the news that his corneas had helped two recipients escape a world of blindness. Mary Jane had long been on the fence about becoming a donor herself, but once she received the stories of her husband’s recipients, she – and her children – made the decision to join Illinois’ donor registry themselves.
“I told my kids their dad helped me make up my mind. Donation is so important. I want to donate anything I can to whoever is in need. Because of Gordon, there is no question in me any longer.”
Recognized throughout the community for his volunteerism, Thomas continued to impact the lives of others after he passed.
Throughout his life, Thomas of Carthage, Mo. took care of his community by donating his time, money and experience to help those in need. It was only fitting after his passing that he continue to improve the lives of others – thanks to Thomas’ pledge to become an eye and tissue donor, he gave the gift of sight to two cornea recipients and helped as many as 50 individuals who benefited from bone and skin grafts.
As an attorney-at-law, father of three and local humanitarian, Thomas played a role in strengthening communities throughout Southwest Missouri. He was instrumental in helping numerous nonprofits in Carthage, Joplin and Neosho get off the ground, and worked as a child advocate through the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program in Joplin.
Thomas was best known throughout Carthage for using his legal experience to help the underprivileged. Said his wife, Carol Ann, “Thomas was described in the community as a ‘good old country lawyer.’ He went the extra mile and often worked out special deals with those who couldn’t afford legal help. If all someone could afford was $5 a month, that’s what he would charge them.”
Thomas was also an active Missouri Civil War Foundation board of directors member, an avid fisherman and a gardening enthusiast. In fact, his garden was recognized throughout the community, since according to Carol Ann, “Anybody could come by and pick whatever they wanted.”
Knowing Thomas’ caring spirit, it came as no surprise to Carol Ann when Thomas made the pledge to become an eye, organ and tissue donor by signing the back of his driver’s license. After he passed away from a heart attack in 2008, Carol Ann had no reservations regarding the donation decision.
“Donation was what Thomas would have wanted. There was absolutely no hesitation on his part to be a donor. It was his wish, and I was going to honor it. Even though he had cataracts, he was able to donate his corneas to someone in Wisconsin and another person outside the U.S.”
Like the hundreds of lives Thomas impacted each day through his tireless efforts in the Carthage community, dozens of individuals saw their lives improve through his final generous gift – a gift that brings consolation to his wife and those who knew him.
“Understanding that Thomas helped people through his donation was comforting, especially at the beginning,” remarked Carol Ann. “I know he is still able to live on in so many different ways.”
Dorian of Kansas City was known for his big smile and bigger heart. “My son loved life, but in a tragic moment his life was cut short and, as a result of that, someone else’s life has now been enhanced,” said Wendy. Thanks to the family’s donation, two cornea recipients received the gift of sight, including an infant who was facing a lifetime of corneal blindness. Remarked Wendy, “In my letter to Dorian’s recipient family, I let them know how he loved children and how fitting that a child received one of his corneas.”
Dorian, an Eye Bank employee, was always dedicated to helping others.
Dorian of Kansas City was known for his big smile and bigger heart. As a recent high school graduate, Dorian was planning on becoming an EMT so that he could help others. “Dorian liked to help people,” said his mother, Wendy. “I think he also liked the thought that the job would be exciting and there would be an adrenaline rush from it.”
Dorian’s passion for assisting those around him was so strong, he even began working alongside Wendy at Saving Sight as a logistics specialist, helping to facilitate the cornea transplant process.
Unfortunately, Dorian’s dreams were cut short in 2008 when he lost his life in a car accident as he was driving a friend to the hospital. Yet, his mission of helping others carries on. After seeing first-hand the impact eye donation has and knowing of Dorian’s caring spirit, Wendy and her family made the difficult decision to donate Dorian’s eyes, bones and tissue.
“We’re a family that cares for others,” said Wendy. “I’ve taught my children to always consider the needs of others and not to be selfish. As far as considering donation, there were limitations as to what we would donate and as long as those limitations were respected, then we didn’t have a problem.” Dorian’s father, Darryl, agreed, “As painful as it was to lose him, I’m glad that Dorian’s gift was able to help others.”
Thanks to the family’s donation, two cornea recipients received the gift of sight, including an infant who was facing a lifetime of corneal blindness. Remarked Wendy, “In my letter to Dorian’s recipient family, I let them know how he loved children and how fitting that a child received one of his corneas.”
