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.”
In McDonald, Kan., Duane Wilkens was long known as someone you could turn to for help in the community.
A grain elevator operator, father to three, and grandfather to seven, Duane devoted much of his free time to his family, yet still found time in his busy schedule to lend a hand to organizations in McDonald.
Duane was actively involved in the St. Joseph’s Church Policy Council, the Knights of Columbus, Cheyenne County Wild Life Board, the Cheylin School Board, and McDonald Area Development.
One group that was especially close to his heart was the McDonald Lions Club in which he was a member for 34 years. “The Lions’ motto is ‘we serve,’ and that is exactly what Duane liked to do…to serve and help others,” said Tish Loker, McDonald Lions Club member. “Whenever there was a need in the community and the club could be of service to that need, Duane made sure it got brought to the club’s attention and carried it through. He was always the one that had a huge hand in getting things rounded up and put together for the annual community events. He loved helping people and giving back to the community.”
Duane’s favorite time of year was the club’s Santa Claus day, an annual event which raised money for organizations in McDonald. Duane was always on hand with a big smile on his face, making sure all the families had a great time as they gathered to play games while their kids shared their wish lists with Santa.
When Duane passed away in February 2010, his family was asked if they wished to donate Duane’s corneas for transplant. Even during the most difficult time of their lives, Duane’s family didn’t think twice about helping their father’s caring spirit live on through two cornea recipients.
Duane’s children shared, “Dad always believed in helping others. So when it came time to decide on whether or not Dad’s gift of sight should be donated, there was no question. After all, this is what Dad always wanted. We know he would be so happy to hear that he was able to help others and pay it forward!”
You can join in honoring Lion Duane’s legacy by pledging to be an eye, organ and tissue donor to help those in need. Please visit www.donatelifekansas.com if you reside in Kansas or www.donatelife.net to find a registry in your state.
In McDonald, Kan., Duane Wilkens was long known as someone you could turn to for help in the community.