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.”
Throughout his short life, Jake of Chatham, Ill. was known for his sense of humor and his unwavering loyalty to his friends. According to his mother, Barbara, Jake was always the first person to jump in whenever anyone needed help.
After a car accident claimed the life of her 18-year-old son, Barbara was asked if she would consent to donating Jake’s corneas and skin to help others. In the midst of a devastating tragedy, Jake’s parents made a compassionate decision from their hearts, just as Jake would have, and agreed to donate.
“I thought something good should come from a tragedy,” she said. “We had never talked about organ donation – I mean, you never expect your 18 year old to die – but I knew donation is something he would want.”
Jake had just graduated Williamsville High School with honors before his accident. During his high school career, he was an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. In addition, Jake, a talented bass player, also incorporated his love of the arts into his school activities. He was king of his madrigals group and performed in school musicals, including his favorite role as of Horrors. An active member in the school’s vocal music department, Jake even sang for President Obama in 2009 as part of his school’s vocal jazz choir.
However, Jake’s greatest love was film. Remarked Barbara, “He loved movies and knew more about movie trivia than anyone I’ve ever met.” In fact, Jake had a full academic scholarship to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale to study filmmaking in order to prepare for a career as a director.
While Jake’s dreams were cut short, his kindness for others continues to live on – both through the lives of the hundreds of people he touched in his 18 years and through the eyes of a cornea recipient in California who can now see thanks to Jake’s family’s generous gift.
Cody had a big heart and would do anything for anyone.
A father. A husband. A brother. A son. Cody Dunham is many things to many people. To the recipients of his corneas, his skin and his bones, he is a true hero.
In January 2009, when 30-year-old Cody of Divernon, Ill. lost his life in a car accident, his family was faced with the decision whether or not to donate his tissue to others. Because of Cody’s caring personality and his wish to become a donor, his family chose to change another’s life through the miracle of transplantation.
Said his mother, Bonnie, “Cody had expressed interest in becoming an organ and tissue donor to all of us, even though we didn’t discuss it too much. We knew that’s what he wanted.” His sister, Tara, agreed, “He was kind of gruff, but would do anything for anyone and had a huge heart.”
Throughout his life, Cody was dedicated to taking care of those around him. When he wasn’t spending time with his family and friends, Cody was helping others in his community. Cody volunteered as a fire fighter for the Pawnee Fire Protection District in his twenties and spent time helping area farmers during the planting and harvesting seasons.
Cody was obsessed with NASCAR. The passing of his idol, Dale Earnhardt, hit Cody especially hard. “I remember when Earnhardt passed, I never knew someone could be that upset about a person they didn’t know personally,” remarked Cody’s wife, Scarlett. “Cody was pretty passionate about the things he cared about.” In addition, Cody, an avid sports fan, followed Notre Dame, the Oakland Raiders and the St. Louis Cardinals, as well as loved gambling and playing poker with his friends.
At the time of his passing, Cody worked at Rettberg’s Inc. in Divernon, installing furnaces and air conditioners. “They all loved him there,” said Bonnie. “After he died, the company sent a letter to over 1,000 of their customers, letting them know about Cody since he had worked in their homes. The response was amazing. Many customers wrote back saying they remembered Cody and contributed donations to his son Kasen’s college fund.”
It’s no wonder Cody continues to change lives after he lost his own. According to Bonnie, Cody helped save the eye of one of his recipients. “In her case, she didn’t get her sight back, but because of a hole in her cornea, she would have lost her entire eye. Cody’s cornea healed her eye. It’s like Cody is still alive, and a part of him is with her. I just can’t wait to meet her someday.”
Mason changed the lives of two cornea recipients through the gift of sight.
From the moment he entered the world, Mason Kempf made an impact on everyone he met through his big smile and bigger heart. By the time he left this world in March 2011, that impact wrapped around the globe and showed complete strangers how one little boy can change the lives of many.
Mason was an intelligent, active child who loved Boy Scouts, soccer, video games and playing with his brother and sister. By second grade, he already planned to attend University of Missouri and become a scientist. However, a diagnosis of diffuse pontine giloma, a brain tumor, in April 2010 changed his path in life.
For the next several months, Mason received treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis until finally his medical team acknowledged there was nothing more they could do. Mason was able to return to his hometown of Overland Park, Kan., and eventually spent the last weeks of his life in hospice care.
His mother Andria chronicled his journey at masonarik.blogspot.com – a touching site that struck a chord with readers. People immediately reached out to help – the Elves of Christmas Present worked on Christmas Eve to create a snow-covered wonderland to grant his holiday wish. In February, Valentine cards were received from around the world, cheering this brave fighter on.
Due to this outpouring of kindness, the family knew they had to find a way to help others. Once they were told there was no cure for Mason’s illness, his father began researching the possibility of eye and kidney donation, talking openly with Mason’s doctors and broaching the subject with hospice providers. Donation hit especially close to home since Mason’s grandmother, who has diabetes, will likely need a kidney transplant herself one day.
Said Andria, “We felt like what happened to us was so tragic, but from day one we looked for the good in the situation. If there was anything we could do for someone else, we would do it. We learned so much from our journey, especially in regards to compassion from complete strangers. It was up to us to give back to help someone else out.”
On March 29, 2011, Mason passed away at home. A few days later, cornea recipients in New York and California received his gift of sight.
Today, Mason’s kindness toward others is still being felt through one special project.
A Love for Tigers Lives on
Whether at home in Kansas City or during his treatment in Memphis, Mason loved spending his free time at each city’s zoo, in particular visiting his beloved tigers.
“On the day he was born, Mason received a giant stuffed tiger,” remarked Andria. “From that day on, he always loved tigers and felt a special connection to them, especially once he got sick. Tigers are brave and courageous just like he was. Plus, the tigers at the Kansas City Zoo are near extinction, so like Mason, they have their own battle to fight.”
Upon seeing the Memphis Zoo’s open, natural tiger habitat, Mason was looking forward to the Kansas City Zoo creating something similar for its own tigers. Spurred by Mason’s passion for the project, his parents met with Kansas City Zoo officials to see how they could help provide support the plan for its upcoming tiger exhibit renovation.
A memorial for Mason was soon set up at the Zoo to raise funds for the tiger sanctuary. On June 21, 2011, which would have been Mason’s tenth birthday, the Kempfs encouraged individuals to send a birthday card and donation to the Zoo’s memorial fund in honor of their son’s final wish. Contributions may continue to be sent to:
Kansas City Zoo
Attn: Laura Berger “In Memory of Mason Kempf”
6800 Zoo Dr
Kansas City, MO 64132
Said Andria, “We’re hoping the exhibit will convey to people the person Mason was. He taught us to carry on and help in the lives of others. We want to impact other people so they too can make a difference and follow in his footsteps.”
