I am grateful for every second that we had Dylan in our lives. The memories to many to list. Dylan was and is a huge presence in our lives, a barometer on how we should be living day to day,full of courage, joy, laughter, and without regrets . Before we lost Dylan, he made the choice to cut his gorgeous long curly locks and donate them to an organization that makes wigs for children. It was because of that choice he made that gave me the courage to allow Dylan to become and eye, organ and tissue donor when he died. It is through that decision that Dylan lives on physically through many other people making it possible for them to live healthy, happy lives. That is a gift to us all , and we couldn’t be more proud of the positive impact Dylan has had on others through donation.

I checked the log on my iPhone. The call came at 7:24p.m. on Christmas Eve, 2016. “This is the Emergency Room at Fairview Southdale Hospital. We have Philip Gottsacker here. He’s in critical condition.” I promptly left the dinner party my wife and I were hosting and made the 20-minute drive to Fairview, with the radio cranked a bit louder than usual in what proved a lame attempt to distract myself from considering what might have transpired. As it turned out, the nurse who called had calculated I’d be a safer driver if she postponed the truth: The details weren’t clear, but an hour earlier, my 60-year-old younger brother had died of a heart attack on the side of Crosstown Highway, about two miles west of Fairview.

I’m the type who takes a while to process bad news, so I foggily listened to the nice highway patrolman tell me he’d done everything he could “at the scene” and sat with the doctor as he told me he, too, had done all he could. I passed on an invitation to see Phil’s body.

Thankfully, it seemed like a slow night at Fairview, which I construed to mean most folks were home, enjoying their usual holiday activities and traditions, far removed from any incident that would forever separate this Christmas Eve from all the others. My thoughts went to my 92-year-old mother and how she was going to take the news, but my first move was to call my wife, who immediately left the party, leaving our good friends behind to do the cleanup.

Then came the call to my sister in Oshkosh, Wis., who took the news badly. She’d leave for Minneapolis in the morning. Next was the call to my unflappable brother Mark, who immediately went into “what’s our next move?” mode. Phil never married and had no kids, so I knew we’d be front and center for whatever needed to happen. But Christmas Day – and my mother – were looming.

When the time came – early afternoon – I entered Mom’s apartment first and found her asleep on the couch. My four surviving siblings waited in the hallway, nervously standing by to execute the plan we’d tinkered together a few minutes earlier at a confab at the nearby McDonald’s. After I had awakened her and awkwardly mumbled God knows what to give her time to get her bearings, I summoned the group. Mark then directly and capably broke the news. We knew losing a son would hit her hard – and it did. As we all cried about the loss of our family’s most gregarious member, we worked to calm her down. In the end, she took it better than we’d expected, but seeing my Mom in so distraught a state was heartbreaking.

Later that day, while I wrote Phil’s obituary, Mark, who’d retrieved the keys to Phil’s house, ventured over to start the onerous process of notifying people, stopping this, cancelling that and determining what obligations Phil had that would now fall to us. Wading through documents, Mark was able to quickly conclude Phil had no will, which, because we knew our brother, was merely a corroboration of what we all suspected already. We had no more luck finding anything about his wishes for “final arrangements.” So, the onus was on us, and, as we’d soon learn, a non-negotiable clock was ticking.

My sister had heard my parents’ church had a relationship with Washburn-McReavy, a funeral home with an Edina location a stone’s throw from the site of the long-gone Mr. Steak restaurant at which I – and Phil – had worked as high schoolers. With no reference, experience or clue to go on, we numbly accepted the notion that favorable proximity constituted adequate reason to hire them.

The folks at Washburn-McReavy were professional, helpful and polite, and, of course, sorry for our loss. But mourning and making arrangements would need to run concurrently, because, frankly, dead bodies don’t “keep” forever, and the longer the process, the more complicated and expensive it gets. So, it was decision after decision, and, unlike almost all other decisions I’ve ever had to make, there was no option not to decide. Cremation or conventional burial? Any religious or other restrictions that complicate the decision? How about the service? Where? Mass or memorial? Celebrant? Flowers? Readings? Songs? Singer(s)? Organist? Program contents? Lunch menu? How about the burial? Which cemetery? Where in that cemetery? In a crypt, mausoleum, niche, columbarium or in the ground? What are all those things? Which headstone? What color of granite, marble, limestone, sandstone or slate? Any symbols on it (flower, star, cross)? Will it be flat? Raised? Slanted? What will it say? And one question persistently and acutely present throughout the entire process: Is this what Phil would have wanted?

Meanwhile, back at Washburn-McReavy, it was time to write the check: Just south of $5,000 for pretty much everything up to and including the service. But again, somehow “Can we shop around?” didn’t seem appropriate or viable.

Needless to say, I harbor no ill-will toward my brother, but all of this could have been much easier, less costly and perhaps even less emotional had Philip left us instructions about what to do in the event of his death. Many of the myriad decisions would have been made. And had Philip had the wherewithal, he even could have pre-purchased everything – the funeral, the burial and a cemetery plot where he wanted it. Perhaps most important, though, we would have been confident we were honoring Phil in the way he would want to be honored.

Now that I have the benefit of this experience, my wife and I have contacted Washburn-McReavy to make our “final arrangements” – well before we’ll need them, I hope. We have a will, but it’s now apparent that’s only half the job. After all, it’s been said death is harder on the people left behind. Having tough decisions already made and perhaps all or a portion of the expenses already paid is a great way to make a difficult process just a bit easier. Consider it a “parting gift” with a purpose far higher than a consolation prize on a game show. And it’s one we can all give our loved ones.

By the way, that night at the hospital, I reconsidered and asked to view Phil’s body. As I reflect on it now, I think it would have disrespected him not to, and, while it offered little consolation, I’m grateful I had the chance to say goodbye and perhaps even show support as he embarked on a new journey.

Tom was born and raised in Union City, New Jersey. He was the baby, born 13 years after his twin brothers Dominic and Christopher. They were a typical Italian, immigrant family in many ways. His parents worked hard to provide for him and his brothers.

He drove across country to Santa Barbara, California in the 60’s to attend the Brooks Institute and pursue his passion for photography. Returning to New Jersey, he started his own graphics business, providing photo and graphic design for some of the top companies based in NJ. That is where he met my mother.

When my mother, Karen, died suddenly in 2014, Tom looked out for me and my family. We all grieved and cared for each other. He was bold and brave and lived in their dream house on a small lake in Columbia City, Indiana. When his ALS prevented him from living alone, he moved to Minnesota so we could be together and he could get the care he needed.

He was a kind and caring person who mostly flew under people’s radar. When we talked about end-of-life plans, he readily spoke up to say he wanted to be a donor in whatever way he could. He always looked at his situation from the perspective of what he could share and offer others to help them. He invented leg supports for his power chair so his knees didn’t flop out and bang on the doorways. He donated the chair, with the braces, to the ALS Association in the hope that someone else would find his invention useful.

I am so very proud of him. When the caregivers and hospice team asked what he needed, he expressed his gratitude at their compassion for him. He gave to others in the 20+ months he lived here in Minnesota – speaking up for staff at The Gardens to recognize their dedication to caregiving; sincerely thanking each person who came to his room to care for and serve him; and welcoming me and my family with open arms and a smile each time we came to see him.

He was generous in life and in death and I know he would be pleased that he was able to be an eye donor.

I was diagnosed with biliary atresia at less then a year old and spent the first almost decade of my childhood very sick. I was to young to really understand how close to death I was but I saw the fear and pain that my family lived with waiting and hoping. I received the gift of life on June 8th 1991 and that day is forever etched in my memory. I remember the flight to the hospital. I remember the relief and fear that swept over my mother. I remember waking up to the beeping of machines; trying to sit up in my hospital bed and the pain that accompanied that attempt. The days after my transplant were painful and scary,but the nurses, doctors, and other hospital staff did everything they could to ease the recovery process. After some years of adjusting and a few rejection scares I was able to begin living a fully active life.

I have learned to appreciate each step of this journey even the ones that just plain sucked. I am 36 years old now and live a active and blessed life teaching yoga in Clarksdale MS; where I strive to inspire others to tap into their potential. My existence is the product of many peoples efforts and faith. Thank You !

It’s been over 25 years and I look forward to another 25 or more years of life. To my donor who I never met thank you! I live my life with gratitude for the gift. A gift I can never repay, but hope to spend the rest of my time on this earth honoring.

Kathy Schwab and Mollie Luhman have much in common. They have both spent much of their careers working in the Mayo Clinic Transplant Center, putting the needs of patients and families first and serving patients and colleagues with endless dedication and expertise. They are leaders in their families and communities, and they both bring joy and energy everywhere they go.

Kathy and Mollie now share an additional commonality. They have both donated a kidney – Kathy to her sister, and Mollie to a friend.

Kathy: My recipient is my sister Ellen. As one of seven siblings when we found out Ellen needed a kidney transplant, we all wanted to help. Ellen is my oldest sister who took me under her wing as we were growing up, making sure I was ready for school and had just the right outfit to wear to dances. She made sure I had the opportunity to visit and apply to several colleges and told me I could be anything I wanted to be. She had a long career as a speech therapist and second grade teacher, mother of two fantastic children and friend to many with special needs.

Mollie: He had a young family to think about, and it was almost as if he was married to the dialysis machine. If I could help, I would, and his relationship with the dialysis machine would end as quickly as possible.

Thank you both for giving the gift of life…and for giving inspiration to all of us!

A loving son, brother, uncle and a great friend to many, Aaron was taken from us way too soon. He lived life to the fullest in his 36 years. He loved spending time with his family and friends. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved being in the woods camping, fishing and hunting. He had many talents. He enjoyed playing the guitar with his father. He had a passion for golf and will be sadly missed on the golf course. He also was a hard worker and was always willing to help others if needed.

Aaron will be remembered with great love and fondness by all who knew him. Oh that smile!

In keeping with his loving and generous spirit, it was his decision to donate life so others could live.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not parish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well-preserved body. But rather, to skid broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming……WOW, what a ride!”

Tim, a husband, father, grandfather, and avid fisherman began experiencing increased shortness of breath in 2013 and was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) that same year. At the time of diagnosis a lung transplant was suggested as a future option but it was difficult to imagine needing a transplant when Tim didn’t even require supplemental oxygen yet.

As the disease began to progress Tim required more breaks during strenuous activities and eventually required oxygen use with exertion. In the fall of 2014, with the full support of his family, Tim began the testing process for a lung transplant. He was officially listed on December 11, 2014. He lived with minimal oxygen support for approximately a year before requiring oxygen use full time. From late 2015 through spring of 2016 Tim’s condition continued to deteriorate, to the point that he needed full time supplemental oxygen and had difficulties with nearly all daily activities. Tim was admitted to the hospital in May of 2016, where he would remain until either a transplant or he succumbed to the disease.

On July 4, 2016 our family was notified that a matching donor was available. Tim received the gift of life on July 5th. Due to the exemplary care provided by his medical team and the amazing gift from the donor, Tim has made an extraordinary recovery. He is back to enjoying the activities that he used to- fishing, appreciating time outdoors, spending time with his family and friends, and living life to the fullest.

Tim and his family strive to honor his donor and her family each and every day. Tim, his wife, his daughter, and his grand-daughter have become LifeSource ambassadors in order to share our story and the message of organ donation.

There is currently no known cure for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. To learn more about this disease please visit the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at http://pulmonaryfibrosis.org/.

Steve Shank and his family are deeply indebted to Tommy. His sacrifice and unselfish act of organ donation saved Steve’s life.

Steve is an Iowa City, IA native and legend. He only became more loved when he was diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic mutation that causes Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome (HPS). The condition is associated with many problems, including albinism, eye problems and bleeding disorders. In Steve’s case, it resulted in lung problems. In less than a year’s time, Steve went from a noticeable shortness of breath symptoms to total lung failure.

True to form, Steve faced the crisis head on, after all, no obstacle ever stopped him before. He was born with low vision, but he still downhill ski raced as a kid and mountain biked as a young man. Steve’s lifetime of hurdles prepared him to make the biggest comeback of his life — surviving the 79-day turbulent hospital stay and 35 days on Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), the “ICU life support & bridge to transplant.” He fought each day for life.

With faith in God, his altruistic donor, Tommy, and the Mayo Clinic’s multidisciplinary team in Rochester, Minnesota, Steve’s persistence paid off. On October 23, 2016, he received the lifesaving gift of a double lung transplant at age 40.

Because of Tommy’s courage and unselfishness, Steve is humbly extending his breaths. Tommy’s choice to give his organs has not only provided life to Steve, but enriched the lives of his wife and two young children. We are in awe of this holy exchange and the tremendous connection shared by him and Tommy. Our gratitude for Tommy, his family, and the many donor families who suffer a loss is profound and always on our hearts.

We aspire to raise awareness alongside a tiny group of warriors globally fighting for HPS awareness and a cure and to advocate for Organ Donation volunteering as LifeSource Ambassadors. We want to shine a light on all who helped us navigate the complexities of this blessing; God, Tommy and his family, Mayo Clinic, LifeSource, the HPS network, the NIH Natural History Studies for Rare Diseases and Bldg 10, #NLRidge, our Luther Family, as well as the unnamed army of support in our network ensuring a second chance at life for Steve.

HPS is a rare genetic disorder that results in oculocutaneous albinism (decreased pigmentation), bleeding problems due to a platelet abnormality, and pulmonary fibrosis. Currently there is no cure for this fast-progressing disease, only a band-aid medication and the hope of a lung transplant. The general prognosis is poor as the disease causes dysfunctions of the lungs, intestine, kidneys and/or heart. It’s major complication is pulmonary fibrosis, which typically exhibits in patient’s ages 40–50 years. Please visit the HPS Network website at www.hpsnetwork.org to learn more about what Steve and others are battling.

Hello my name is Corinne Rockstad and I’m the proud mother of Liz Rockstad or as I always called my daughter “Lizzie.”

Lizzie was born September 24, 1984 in Bismarck, North Dakota and passed away April 7, 2013. She died from an accidental overdose of the prescribed pain medication she was taking known as oxycodone. She had only been taking it for a few short months.

She was so much more than a 2013 overdose statistic in Ramsey County. She was beautiful inside, caring, a sister, hopeless romantic, animal lover, human rights advocate, great back scratcher, old-fashion young lady, an organ, tissue Donor and she was my daughter.

When she was born I couldn’t believe it when the nurse told me my daughter had red hair. How could have I been so fortunate to have two daughters with red hair and beautiful blue eyes. Lizzie’s older sister Sarah has red hair and blue eyes and more commonly they are called “Gingers”.

Lizzie loved art, fashion culture, music and reading. Her favorite TV programs were True Blood, Modern Family, 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live. She like listening to the radio, including The Current, classical, country music and Public Radio. She also liked going to the movies especially James Bond and we would always make plans so her and myself could see the newly released James Bond movies together. Actually I think she liked looking at Daniel Craig. She enjoyed the Minneapolis concert scene. Once she had tickets to go see Phoenix at First Ave and was too sick to go. Her sister arranged to have the Phoenix Band members autograph their poster for Lizzie. She had an “eye” for fashion and could take a scarf, jewelry, and belt and pull an outfit together. She never left the house without looking her best!

She worked as a Certified Nurse Assistant in a nursing home, a role she preferred rather than being a registered nurse because she was much more involved with the residents. She truly enjoyed being a nurse assistant to the elderly and got to know her residents very well. She would often bring in movies from her personal collection— and Johnny Cash was a favorite. She would often tell me, Mom we watched Johnny Cash again today.” Her name was mentioned in eulogies of her residents by their family members and she attended their funerals as well. She really connected with the elderly and enjoyed listening to their life stories.

Being the strong advocate for human and animal rights she would become very upset every March when the baby seals would be bludgeoned. In March of 2013 she was alive and on her Facebook page showed a baby seal bludgeoning those humans who bludgeoned baby seals. I remember her showing it to me on her Facebook page . She also believed it was unconstitutional to tell someone who they could marry. Lizzie would have been elated to know the Supreme Court passed the bill in 2014. She was very informed about news and worldly events.

Lizzie’s “signature trademark” was her red hair, her beautiful flawless skin, wonderful blue eyes and dimples. She loved to picnic in Loring Park, going to the Walker, and stopping at Dunn Bros. Coffee. When we would shared a cup of coffee together she would always say, “Make mine like a sandy beach Mom”. An excellent cook, many of her recipes is still being used at the nursing home which she worked. When she lived with me we would plan one great meal each month. It was a time when we both would cook together and talk. One of our favorites was making Knoephla soup because it is a North Dakota staple that we inherited from living there. A hopeless romantic and she always wanted to meet the right man.

Lizzie left behind her family and her cat “Kitten”, but her tragic death led to new beginnings with sight for two people through eye and tissue donation that has helped 61 individuals. The individuals who received gifts from Lizzie are men and women ranging in age from 27 to 88 and have undergone surgery in 21 states.They required a tissue transplant for many various surgeries, including repairs to the toe, foot, ankle, shin, spine, hip and tendons of the knee, as well as reconstruction following a mastectomy and following a burn injury. I have also recently learned the two recipients who received her corneas is a man and a women who live in Minneapolis. For how tragic her death was can you imagine what it was like for the two recipients when they learned there was a donor who has donated their corneas and tissue. Over 7 years ago she had told me her decision to be a donor and indicated it on her driver’s license. She made the decision all on her own, knew it was the right thing to do and never second guess it. She was all about helping others and giving back. We are very proud of her for choosing to be a donor. When Lizzie’s picture was posted on the MN Lions Eye Bank Facebook page December 9, 2013 one of her co-worker/ friend saw it and wrote, After Liz’s death, such a dear friend, I went to the DMV to renew my license and a smile came across my face as I checked the box to become a donor also! All because of Liz!!

I often wonder if she were alive today what she would be doing. I know she would still be a CNA, or calling me to say mom can you hear Kitten purring while she is sitting on my lap, planning our ToFurkey Thanksgiving meal together, going to the new released James Bond movie, grocery shopping and talking about politics.

It still doesn’t seem real that she is gone and actually some days are so difficult I don’t think I can make it. But then there are wonderful rewarding people from LifeSource and MN Lion’s Eye Bank who have helped us to keep Lizzie’s memory alive. Both organizations have honored my daughter in several ways which we are forever grateful for! It is very difficult still to talk about my Lizzie but it means the world to me to be asked to share my daughter’s life. We truly love to talk about our loved one’s so never feel like it makes us uncomfortable because for that one moment we can share what joy they brought into our life.

Lizzie’s gifts have made a tremendous difference not only in the lives of the individuals who received them, but also in the lives of the recipients’ family and friends. Lizzie lives on in a legacy of kindness because of her gift and this has given us solace. I guess you can say she was recycled and she is out there in so many lives. Lizzie would have loved that!!!

If you are ever in Loring Park there is a park bench dedicated to Lizzie. Her bench is located directly across from Dunn Bros Coffee 329 W. 15th St. Minneapolis. You can’t miss it because her permanent address is etched in the concrete with a rock on the right hand side with her name “Lizzie” and the dedication on the side of the arm rest, “For Liz, We Love You, Mom~Sarah~Kitten”.

From the bottom of my heart we thank you for reading about our Lizzie and for what she stood for. She did have a purpose and did leave her mark in this World!

We are so blessed to have had a brother like Jon for 54 years. His booming voice and big bear hugs will be missed every day but we’ll remember him when the wind blows, when the fish jump in the lake and when we spot a lone buck standing in the field.

Peter “Pete” was the kindest soul with the best smile and a great sense of humor. He was a loyal and loving son and brother and an amazing friend. He gave the best bear hugs and would do anything to help a friend or stranger in need. He was a great listener and encourager who was inclusive and always saw the best in people.

Peter “Pete” was a great cook who loved to organize fun gatherings at his home to watch games or gather around a fire pit. He loved Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Vikings games, NASCAR races, golfing, and year around fishing.

Peter had perfect pitch and is now singing in the Heavenly choir praising Jesus for eternity. At the age of 8, he made a commitment to Jesus and professed his love for Him through baptism. “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son [Jesus]. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12).

Peter “Pete” is greatly loved and dearly missed by so many people. We are grateful that his life continues through his gift of organ donation.

Bill was born December 5th 1966 in St Paul, Minnesota where he was adopted by his mother Wally and father Bill.

Bill attended school at DeLa Selle High School a catholic school in Minneapolis. At the age 12 Bill met Keith, his friend and hunting companion since 1978.

In 1985 at the age of 18 Bill met Jamie; they were married in June 1990. In the following year Bill and Jamie had their daughter Ellie or Punkin as Bill liked to call her; three years later their son Reice was born. Bill named Reice after Kyle Reese from the original Terminator movie.

In 2010 Bill and Jamie were divorced after 20 years, but he never stopped being a father and would help his kids in any way he could. Bill helped anyone he could in any way they needed. Bill was the funny guy, the helpful guy willing to drop everything to help a friend.

Bill passed away June 12th surrounded by his loving family and friends. In honor of Bill’s life Ellie and Reice decided to donate Bill’s organs and tissue.

My name is Paul Cimmerer and I received the life saving gift of a liver transplant over 25 years ago. When I was 31, I was diagnosed with a chronic liver disease and at the time did not know how long it would be before a transplant would be needed. For about 10 years I was able to live and work and raise a young family of four daughters with my wife Sandy. The time finally arrived when it became necessary to be added to the list of people awaiting transplants. I was extremely fortunate to not have to wait a long time before a donor liver became available from a family in South Dakota. I felt relief and also extremely scared about what the outcome would be. At that time, our children were all pre-teens and my one wish as I walked out the door to go to the U of M for the transplant was that I would live long enough to see our daughters graduate from high school. I placed my faith in God and the medical staff at the U of M and the long term outcome could not have been better.

Because of the courage and caring of my donor and his family I have been blessed with a much longer life than I could ever have anticipated when I was initially diagnosed. As a family we were able to send our four daughters to college, have the good fortune to be a part of four weddings and we now have eight wonderful grandchildren. I have had a long and successful career in human resources and continue to do consulting work. I have also had the wonderful opportunity to pursue my interests in pottery and painting as creative hobbies that bring me much fulfillment and joy.

There are no words for me to describe the feelings I have about being a transplant recipient.

Profound gratitude and love for all who make it possible first come to mind but the emotional complexities of receiving a second chance at this life while many donor families suffer the loss of a loved one is not lost and will forever remain in my awareness.

My family and I live in perpetual gratitude for the generosity of my donor family and I send them and all donor families prayers and blessings every day.

I love volunteering for LifeSource as much as I can and am so grateful for the staff and resources at LifeSource for the life giving work they do with donor families, recipients and medical facilities and staffs.

Ron was 66 years old when he passed away very unexpectedly. We had been married for only 6 ½ years, it was a second marriage for both of us; but we had many plans for a long future together and we were very happy.

“Goodnight dear, I love you.” These were the last words he spoke to me as we went to bed at night the day after Easter. The next morning, Tuesday, April 7, 2015 his alarm went off but he didn’t shut it off as quickly as usual. I couldn’t easily wake him, and as I reached over to shut the alarm off myself, I realized he was cold. My first memories after that of that morning were of crying as I kept trying to wake him and of dialing 911. The Police and Fire Department came. A police officer called my brother and Ron’s brother, I couldn’t dial those numbers. Family started to come and the emergency personnel began leaving. As the medical examiner was going out the door, she said there was no need for an autopsy, as it was just a natural death. Nothing pointed to a heart attack, he had no grimace on his face, he wasn’t clutching his chest and he had not formed a fist, he just died…a natural death.

Soon after, someone from LifeSource called to ask permission for Ron to be a tissue donor. Seemingly this call came out of the blue, because I knew he didn’t have it on his license. He was going to add it the next time he renewed it. It was not a hard decision for me to make, I didn’t have to think hard about saying yes, but I was concerned that he could be a donor as he was a cancer survivor, and had been a Vietnam Vet exposed to Agent Orange. I voiced my concerns, but they said enough time had elapsed and it would be OK. LifeSource took care of the details of having him transported to Abbot, including the operating room for the recovery and then transportation on to the mortuary. The tissue recovery process did not alter the way Ron looked and we were still able to have an open casket at his funeral. By 5:30 that evening I got a call saying they were finished with the recovery and he was on his way to the mortuary, it still didn’t seem real.

Ron was able to donate bone, connective tissue and skin as well as his eyes. At that time up to 60 people, over the next five years will benefit from his donation. Whether it will be for actual patients or for research he will still be living on. Knowing this helps me get through the days. What an incredible opportunity for him and what a feeling of peace to know that he did not die in vain. His life as we knew it had ended, but he would be able to help others to live on. So in death, he is still helping others as he did throughout his life. I have been assured and truly believe that he was handled with care and respect throughout the recovery process. I, myself, have been treated with utmost kindness and concern by everyone at LifeSource and I am very grateful to have received that phone call on the morning that he passed away.

The initial shock has worn off, life has continued, very different from the way I knew it, but it has continued. Each day it becomes clearer to me that although he has died he is really living on through other people and what a legacy that is. Ron was his own person, he was kind and considerate but said what needed to be said. He was honest and loyal, loved being a grandparent and was proud of having been a Marine. Ron enjoyed being retired, playing golf and getting together with family to play cards. He liked to go on road trips, watch the history channel and listen to polka music. He worked at perfecting his recipe for homemade sausage at Thanksgiving and Christmas much as his grandfather had done. Ron thought of my son as his own and was helping him remodel his home. He was a great storyteller and teaser. Ron was one of a kind, he was truly my best friend and soulmate. I miss him very much.

I only had the pleasure of knowing and loving Jeff for a short time.

I first met Jeff on May 8, 2015, thru his son and my daughter,i wasn’t sure if he was my type of guy. Once i started to talk to him and getting to know him, i instantly felt a connection to him as he did me. We got married on Aug 20 2015, he was younger than me and he was worried that i may pass before him and how devastated he’d be.. We were always going out and having a good time. We walked around lakes, went to the malls,florida 2 times, concerts, plays, you name it we did it. Jeff was a caring and loving guy, he gave me meaningful cards, and always added to them, and would unexpectedly bring me 💐. He was from E.St Paul and it seemed like he knew everybody wherever we went. He was a personable guy, loved to talk and had many friends. He was always trying to give good advice to his son and daughter and lead them on a good path in life, as well as, his step daughters who he considered his own,too.

Some days i’d look at him like, Are you for real? He once told me he was a “young man with an old soul” Unfortunately, our lives together were cut short when he got into a motorcycle accident on Apr.14th 2016. Now i’d be the one left devastated, but in my heart,im also glad to know how he’s been able to. help others, and that he chose to be a donor. Im also a donor, and i’m happy to of been able to see how this program works and how we can look forward to. Expressing the importance of being a donor to others.

Scott Adam (son, husband, father, friend, organ donor) was involved in a tragic accident on August 22, 2015. The cause of his accident is still unknown but he died from a blunt force head injury. He spent 13 days in the hospital before passing away on September 3, 2015. Scott left behind his wife and five children. Scott’s passion was selling cars. He was a ‘people person’ and enjoyed making people smile and laugh. He was a huge sports fan. He enjoyed going to auctions with his wife. Above everything else, Scott loved his wife and his children. Scott was a caring, compassionate person that helped others. Even in this tragedy of losing his own life, he helped others by being an organ donor.

Amber died as a result of a car accident. She was a 28 year old, single mother. She loved people and to help people. She worked as a senior meal coordinator and server in a local restaurant. Her regulars loved her and loved to tease her, because they knew that she’d tease them right back. Her phone was never quiet. She was always doing something for somebody or some group, delivering meals on wheels, selling popcorn at t-ball games or match making for her friends. People were her hobby. It was hard to find pictures of just her because she was always with somebody, especially her daughter Jazlynn.

When Amber was around you knew it because she lived life to the fullest and let everyone know about it. There was always laughter and lots of stories. She was crazy and fun. Amber had a way of turning friends into family and strangers into friends. She touched so many lives in her life which was evident by the line of people streaming out the funeral home door at her visitation. . One of Amber’s friends posted this on her Facebook page. “Your vibrancy radiated when you walked into a room, you took on life’s challenges with an open heart and a smile on your face. All of us are better because we were lucky to call you a friend.” That sums up Amber pretty well.

We wanted to capture how many lives Amber touched for the love of her life, Jazlynn, her 7 year old daughter. We placed Amber’s yellow hand print on 20+ canvasses while she was in the hospital waiting for her last opportunity to assist others, donation day . At the visitation, we invited everyone there to paint their hand and place it on one of those canvasses. The boards were filled with a plethora of hand prints, from big adult men down to little tiny babies. The hand prints overlap symbolizing how Amber had a way of connecting people. In the years to come, Jaz can look at these canvasses and remember her mom as the big hearted, friendly and positive person that everyone knew and loved.

In true Amber style, she continued to share herself in her last moments, by giving her heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, sight and tissue to strangers, passing along with them some of her vibrancy. May they live as she did, cherishing each moment God blessed her and those around her with. She lived and died generously and would want everyone to follow suit. That is what we are trying to do.

Daniel was an incredibly special man (yes, of course, I am biased). Gregarious. Smart. Witty. Gifted. Contemplative. Thoughtful. Loving. Fit. To look at him, you would have thought, as many people did, that he worked out hours a day, and was a contender for the healthiest, fittest man of the year! In many ways he was what he appeared to be- incredibly active, strong, athletic, energized and energizing. Yet, his heart health did not obviously match his outer fitness. He worked too much, too hard, too long. He loved to work, to see the result of his work, to share the products of his labors, to do for others. He was also the sort of person who loved to be the center of attention. He had myriad stories and jokes to tell to anyone of any age in any part of the world. Before I met him, he had traveled all over Australia, South American, and North America. During our time together we lived and worked in Asia and in the Midwest and traveled to various other places. He loved to travel not just to see the beauty of the world, but to experience new cultures, to meet and interact with new people in those cultures, to entertain children, to regale friends and strangers with his stories.

When we were living overseas, we often took the el train to various cultural and entertainment venues, as well as to parks, monuments, memorials, historical sights. The trains were generally filled with people of all ages, and mainly people who did not speak English- or spoke only choppy English. Daniel always had a bag of M&M’s in his shirt pocket to share with little children, if the parent gave the go-ahead nod. If the train were not too crowded, he would often pull out a long skinny balloon to blow up and twist into a dog or giraffe to the delight of the child. Daniel relished the smiles, the moments. He was not one to sit and look at his cell phone or read the paper on the el. He would do everything in his power to interact with people. He was so alive in the moment. He is so alive in my memories.

Daniel would do virtually anything to help another human being; he was filled with love for life and people. Even in death, he wanted to be of help to others. He had no reservations about being an organ, eye, and tissue donor. He wanted to help where he could. If his organ, eye, and tissue donation has is some way helped anyone or made things better for anyone in any way, he will surely be smiling from his place in heaven, happy to have been able to help.

Mary unexpectantly pased away on her birthday last September 2015.

John was 46 and in great shape. Loved distance and trail running. Lived in Alaska and especially enjoy the mountains and trails of his adopted state. His daughter Rosie was 8 and son Alder was 2 when John died. They were on vacation, visiting family, and he went for a run. He fell from a height during his run and died before the medics arrived. The decision to donate his tissue and organs was easy, though his wife, Becca, asked a lot of questions when LifeSource contacted her to be sure she understood the process. John was unfailingly generous to all he met. He was deeply loving and attentive to others. The first to notice when one of the children needed attention, the first to help a friend or neighbor in need. He also loved to help others have fun, and was always instigating snowball fights or pick-up hockey games on frozen lakes. He juggled (his best trick was eating an apple while juggling), played guitar, hiked, ran, skied, skated. Most of all he loved. He loved life, he loved nature, he loved people.

John worked as a statistician, studying the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. He took a lot of time off when his kids were born. He wanted to be and was a co-equal partner in parenting. We miss him deeply but are striving to live in his spirit. We have received a lot of love and support from our family, friends and neighbors.

It is helpful to us to know that some piece of John helped others live a better life. He gave the gift of sight to two people and as many as 36 people have benefitted from his tissue donation. The recipients, ranging in age from 13 – 73 years old, in the following states: Ohio, Kansas, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Texas, New York, Colorado, Georgia, Minnesota, Oregon, Florida, Pennsylvania and Washington state.

I miss him terribly, I’d give anything to have him back but his gift to me is LifeSource.

Joe was born the biggest baby they had seen at United Hospital. He was 11 pounds and 23 1/2 inches long. He was loud and full of life and that is how he lived his 30 years on earth. Joe is the second born and our oldest son. He was skilled in so many things but he loved being a mechanic. He loved cars, trucks whatever had a motor he would take it apart and put it back together even better. He loved the water and had bought his first pontoon just weeks before his life ended. He loved his wife, Danielle and daughter, Emily Rose and son, Vincent “Vinny” Anthony. He loved his whole family and had a heart of gold. As a child Joe would ask so many questions and want to know everything. He never stopped talking. He was such a busy child always taking things apart to see how they worked.

I know that Joe would be so proud to know that he had been able to give a gift such as this. I can see his face and eyes light up to know that something wonderful has come of his death and he still lives on.

Joe taught me patience. Having him in my life made me a better human being and I am thankful that I was chosen to be his mother. I want the recipients to know that joe lived his life to the fullest each and everyday and he expected that of all of us.

Christian was born on July 28, 2005 in Fresno, CA. God welcomed Christian to his Kingdom on October 26, 2013. From the moment of Christian’s birth, everyone knew that he was special. His positive morale brought laughter to all, his laughter brought joy, his joy brought love, and from his love, he showed us what true compassion meant. Christian was a natural born leader.

Christian was an outgoing 8-year old boy who was full of life. He lived in Rochester, MN. It was here where he attended Sunset Terrace Elementary School and brought smiles to students of all ages. He was always active, laughing, joking, and constantly pointing out the positive side of all situations. He spent his days loving cars, running around playing football and tag, playing piano, riding his bike, collecting Pokémon cards, and even volunteering with his father at various missions and religious functions. He also loved hanging out with his friends, playing his Wii, and fighting his BeyBlades toys.

On the morning of October 25, 2013 Christian’s siblings woke up to prepare for school like any ordinary day, only to find that he was not awake and no longer breathing. He was taken to Mayo Clinic where he was given further treatment. A CT scan was performed and it revealed that Christian had suffered from a brain aneurysm that morning.

On Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 10:15 AM, Christian was pronounced brain dead. On Sunday, October 27th at 11:00 AM, Christian was taken off of life support. It was always his dream to grow up and help children to achieve their dreams and goals. With a short life, yet a huge heart and the will power to help children, Christian donated his kidneys, livers, pancreas, and his heart so that his heart valves may be used to replace damaged heart valves in future patients.

Although Christian is no longer here with us in flesh, his spirit and memories will continue to touch us. His actions and words proved that the life you live can long out last the time spent on Earth. Christian will forever be remembered as a boy with little feet that were able to fill such big shoes with strides some grown men has yet taken. Christian’s legacy has taught an entire community that a person’s life is not dictated by the amount of time spent living, but rather by the amount of lives you touch.

BriAnna Kruzel was a remarkable individual whose beautiful spirit touched the lives of many. Her sudden and tragic passing at the tender age of 18 left a void in our hearts that can never be filled. BriAnna’s story is one of compassion, dedication, and a genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of others.

From a young age, BriAnna exemplified the values of service and community engagement. She wholeheartedly embraced her involvement with organizations such as Girl Scouts and Big Brothers Big Sisters, where she dedicated countless hours as a mentor and role model. BriAnna’s commitment to helping others earned her recognition and accolades, including the prestigious High School Big Sister of the Year award in 2013.

BriAnna’s positive impact extended beyond the boundaries of these organizations. She actively volunteered her time with the Sartell Community Ed Dance program, spreading joy and inspiration to young dancers. Her love for scrapbooking, crafting, and animals further reflected her creative and caring nature. BriAnna had an infectious smile that could light up any room, and her happiness resonated with everyone she encountered.

In the wake of her untimely passing, BriAnna’s family and friends took it upon themselves to honor her memory through the establishment of the non-profit organization called What Would Bri Do, Inc. This organization was born out of a desire to continue BriAnna’s legacy of selflessness and community involvement. Through WWBD, her loved ones aim to give back to the community that she held dear and spread the same kindness and compassion that BriAnna exemplified.

A testament to BriAnna’s giving nature was her decision to donate her eyes and tissue upon her passing. She knew that helping others was the essence of who she was and what she stood for. The hope remains in the hearts of her family that they will one day hear from the recipients and find solace in knowing that a part of BriAnna lives on, continuing to make a positive impact.

One of the most heartfelt tributes to honor BriAnna’s memory is the creation of the BriAnna Rose Kruzel Growing Up Big Award by the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN. This annual award recognizes an exceptional Big Sister or Little Sister within the organization, a fitting tribute to BriAnna’s commitment and dedication to the program.

BriAnna, you were truly an angel here on Earth. Your infectious smile, compassionate heart, and zest for life touched the lives of all who were fortunate enough to know you. Your presence may no longer physically grace our lives, but your spirit lives on in the hearts of those who loved you. We promise to continue doing what you would do – giving, caring, and making a positive impact in the world.

In 2016, an Angel of Hope will be placed in Sartell, MN as a symbol of remembrance and hope in BriAnna’s memory. This angel will stand as a testament to the love, joy, and kindness that BriAnna embodied, reminding us all to cherish every moment and to always strive to make a difference.

In 2018, Bri’s Lodge was established as a haven for those in need of grief support. With a focus on companioning, the lodge offers a safe and peaceful space for individuals to find solace and healing. Through support groups, equine therapy, and activities centered around the senses, Bri’s Lodge aims to provide holistic support for those navigating the difficult journey of grief. In addition, Bri’s Lodge is dedicated to expanding its services and becoming a future grief retreat center, where individuals can find respite, engage in therapeutic activities, and connect with others who share similar experiences in their grief journey.

BriAnna, you may have left this world too soon, but your legacy will forever inspire us to be better, to love more deeply, and to live each day with purpose. Thank you for the profound impact you had on our lives. May you rest in eternal peace, dear BriAnna.

9 1/2 years ago, after my wife died of cancer, I was diagnosed with IPF, and my whole world changed. I was a widow with a daughter to raise. I didn’t know what would happen to me or my daughter as the disease progressed. The disease progressed slowly, at first, but in 2010, it started attacking my lungs at an alarming rate. In conjunction with my excellent pulmonologist Dr. Keith Harmon, I started the process of getting on the list for a lung transplant at the U of M. Fortunately, I was accepted, and received a single lung on December 16, 2010, 5 years ago to this day. I awoke with a new lease on life, and was able to return to work, re-marry, and see my daughter graduate from both high school & college.

I don’t know my donor, or his family. I have sent letters of thanks and gratitude to the donor family. There is no way to thank them properly except to let the family know that I have been a grateful recipient who continues to take care of their loved one by caring for myself. My family is also eternally grateful for the gift of life. We know the donation was made at a particularly bad time of year – the holiday season – and we hope that knowing the giving of life made a tremendous difference in the life of another family eases the pain of that donor family.

I would also like to thank Dr. Keith Harmon at Methodist, as well as the U of M Transplant Team, Drs. Patil and Herz. I would like to also acknowledge the love & support of Maddy, my daughter, and my wife, Judy, during these 5 years after my successful transplant.

Lexi also known as Smiley was tragically taken from us in a car accident involving an inattentive driver. She leaves a huge emptiness in the hearts of all of us who loved her. She leaves behind her mom who raised her on her own since she was a baby. Lexi loved her mom immensely, they shared a bond that only a single mom and daughter could have, they went everywhere and did everything together. Family was everything to Lexi, she loved her grandma Linda and grandpa Jim. She was very protective and patient with her grandpa who had Alzheimer’s. Lexi and her grandma loved to do fun things together.

Lexi loved and lived life to its fullest with a larger than life Smile and contagious laughter. She was energetic, compassionate, giggly, witty, adventurous and a phenomenal fastpitch softball pitcher and player. Girls wanted to play on a team with Lexi, not the team playing against her. Lexi put countless hours into practicing pitching and training, rarely having a night or weekend off from softball. She had many D-1 schools on her radar as a sophomore. Although she was a tough and gritty softball player, she had fun and learned many life lessons from the game. Her mom would always tell her to Smile, it makes her play better and harder, so she did. She had Smile written on her glove and would write Smile on her wrist, not as a reminder she didn’t need that, but as her inspiration.

Lexi’s goal was to become a pediatric nurse and make a difference in the lives of children one Smile at a time. Her dream was cut short, but Lexi gave Shelby Kostelac the most selfless gift anyone could ever give, she gave him the gift of life. During the most horrific day in Lexi’s moms life, she was told Lexi didn’t survive her injuries and asked her if she would be willing to donate Lexi’s liver. Lexi’s mom knew Lexi would want her to say yes. Lexi saved Shelby’s life, his daughters still have a dad, his wife a husband and his parents a son.

Lexi’s is a hero, her legacy carries on in many ways.

Lexi’s softball Club, MN Vortex changed their tournament name to the Lexi Kretsch Summer Showdown to carry on her goal of making a difference in lives of others. The tournament tells her story, gives out scholarships and collects toys to donate to children in her memory. The tournament in existence for 7 years has over 100 teams competing in it.

When you see the word Smile, think of Lexi and all the lives she’s made a difference in. The last time Lexi and her mom spoke to each other before the accident their last words to each other were “I love you Lexi”, and “I love you momma”. Make sure you treat each other with compassion and love as if it were the last time you’ll see or talk to them.

Lexi lives on in our hearts and is still helping and influencing others one Smile at a time.

Lexi is the love of my life, always was, always is and always will be, I will see you again Lexi xoxo Mom.

TO KNOW HIM WAS TO LOVE HIM.

Making friends was his “strong suit.”

He loved making music with HIS Guitar (far more important to him than ever having an automobile.)

Practicing and writing his own music was his relaxation.

That is what made him a Good Musician…

David’s Dreams came true with having his own band, “Angel’s Dream” with Luanne and having the opportunity to take their Band to California and be heard.

With ease he could take food from the larder and the refrigerator make a meal for himself and his friends.

The Vikings were his Sunday Passion, either in a Bar with other Fans, or, on his phone with his friend Teddy analyzing every play from different ends of the Twin Cities.

A Park Bench on the west side of Lake Calhoun, is in his Memory.

When you find it, sit a bit and enjoy the Skyline of our Minneapolis.

Think Good Thoughts of our David. (8-20-1964 – 8-12-2010)

Thanks to LIFESOURCE he gave an extended and better Life to Many.

Crist was born February 28, 1976 in Rock Island, Illinois and he passed away June 15, 2004 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He married a wonderful young woman, Stephanie Newstrum, May 24, 2003. They made their home in Richfield, Minnesota where they enjoyed each other and spent a lot of time upgrading their home, garage and yard.

One subject Crist and Stephanie had discussed at length was organ donation. He was adamant about being an organ donor. Just 3 weeks before he died, he again talked this over with Stephanie. Who would have guessed his wishes would be fulfilled so soon? He died as the result of falling down the basement stairs and suffering severe head trauma. He was physically an excellent donor candidate. In fact, his donation benefited 100 people.

Organ donation takes place during the most difficult time of your life; the death of a loved one. Because of our strong faith in God and the comfort of family and friends, we realize this was all part of God’s plan. There are one hundred people here on earth, some who probably wouldn’t be here, if Crist hadn’t decided to be an organ and tissue donor. And of course we’re comforted knowing Crist is with his Heavenly Father.

We have had the privilege of meeting both his heart and liver recipient. We’ve become good friends with Jay, who received Crist’s heart, and his wife Tammy. We’ve been fortunate to be able to spend a lot of time with them and they include us as members of their family. Tim received Crist’s liver. He and his wife Julia have four children and he is now well and working again. We are included as part of their family also. Through our friendship with these people we’ve come to realize how difficult donation is for the recipient. They have to go through the physical process of surgery and recovery and also deal with the emotional fact that someone has died so they can live. These people are truly grateful for their Gift of Life.

LifeSource’s mission statement is “LifeSource saves lives and offers hope and healing through excellence in organ and tissue donation” and that is exactly how they operate. The entire process was handled with the utmost dignity and respect by caring and dedicated people.

My mom was so full of love and kindness, giving, and grateful for life. She married my dad and in 1969 and they never fell out of love, they showed us 3 kids what a relationship should be like, what a gift. My mom loved to cook, a lot! She was so in awe of her grand-kids and lit up each time they came for a visit. I miss her laughter, the way she took care of us kids even though we are adults and living on our own, and how she always knew what the perfect gift was for Christmas. I miss her voice, her words of wisdom, and talking on the phone with her each night even though we worked together all day long. She’s in heaven now with my dad and sister, I know they are looking down on us with pride.

My mom was a organ, tissue, and bone donor. She helped countless lives, in her death she was still giving to others.

Thank you mom for being you, you guided me and lifted me up, you touched so many and your memory will live on forever. I miss you. I love you.

Rick was a simple, easy-going man, and yet he was very complex. He had the heart of a child, always tried to be helpful and wanted to please. He was so mechanically inclined that the rest didn’t really matter. Diesel engines were second nature to him; gas jobs were lower on the food chain. In the fall of 2013 he was finally able to make his dream of owning a dually come true!

He was proud of his military service and yet he would not talk much about it. He took the Classified status of his Navy duties very seriously, even after that era was essentially declassified. He carried many battle scars within his soul and was sometimes haunted by the memories he would not share. I truly believe he spent his life trying to atone for those actions of which he was not proud.

When we first met (on a blind date!), I was attracted to that smile of his and those beautiful, twinkling blue eyes. Our “matchmaker” friend told me later that Rick was “truly smitten” that very night! He begged me for my phone number but I was cautious. I agreed to meet him for dinner and dancing the following week and he was a perfect gentleman. At the end of the evening he handed me a small box of chocolates and a single rose; he kissed me on the cheek. That was probably when I started to realize just how special he really was.

He bought me my first pair of [padded] bike shorts a week or so later and “let” me ride his Motobecane with the fancy wheels; they had paired spokes with contrasting stripes on the rims. We were flying down portions of roads around the Minneapolis Lakes area at close to 20mph and I was keeping up with him – mostly! We ended up at Minnehaha Falls for a breather then headed back to the western suburb where he had left his truck parked, for a total of around 23 miles. Later that evening he confessed (over dinner with friends) that he had taken me on that little romp to see if I could actually ride – “like she said she could” – because that compatibility was so important to him.

In what was to become known to me as typical Rick style, he knew what he wanted and wasted no time. He proposed to me three months after we met! We were married on a beautiful (albeit very hot) Saturday in the middle of July the following year.

We joined the Twin Cities Bicycling Club (TCBC) in the spring of 2007. I had stumbled on the website while registering us for the Ironman Bike Ride and thought it sounded like a good way for us to do what we loved while also socializing a little. Needless to say, he blossomed within the club! His sunny smile and sparkling eyes were always welcoming of new riders; that meant new friends! He tried to encourage those who felt shy or unsure of their skills. Especially on his own rides once he became a leader, he would stay back with those who were struggling and pull them back to the group, or even all the way to the finish, still holding to his “no man left behind” training and belief.

Once he discovered racing, time trialing, and the hills in Wisconsin, he blossomed even more! Competitiveness was in his blood and he loved a good challenge to his endurance. He was always tired and hungry after a hard effort but once he had food in him, the spark was back and he would start talking about the next adventure on the menu. Rick started planning his (our) 2015 return to the Black Hills while we were still unloading the camper from the trip in 2014! Tragically, it was a trip he never got to take.

We had almost 10 years together, nine of which we were married. I will say again, in closing, that for both of us, with all of our baggage, those years were unequivocally the very best 10 years of our lives! I take some comfort in knowing that he died doing what he loved, with some of the best friends he has ever been privileged to claim as his own. I loved him with all my heart and I miss him more than anyone can ever know.

Tom was a warm-hearted, good person. He worked in hospitality all of his adult life and referred to it as his stage. There was so much that was beautiful about him; with that said, his greatest gift in life was his ability to make everyone feel welcome, feel appreciated, feel inspired. He offered support through acceptance. He was dynamic in so many ways and I am not sure he ever really saw the impact he had on literally hundreds of lives.

RIP brother, uncle, son, friend, and love!

These are Ed’s words from his presentations he would give to High School Students, Medical Personnel, or anyone willing to listen…

“In my case I had first indications of a problem when on a helicopter ski trip with my older son to Park City Utah in 2000. I was having trouble breathing at higher altitudes (over 10,000 feet) . I was a bit surprised as my son and I had been working out 2-3 times a week to ‘get into shape’ for the skiing. I chalked it up to the ‘just getting older’ stage of life which all us transplant folks do. I was able to ski the 4 days we were there but not as well as I hoped\planned. I was also extremely lucky to not have a medical emergency as I had the symptoms of what is called a pulmonary embolism.

After we got back to The Cities I went to my doctor (but not for 3 months!, guys don’t do doctors well!) and he sent me to a heart specialist who didn’t find anything wrong with my heart. He then referred me to a lung specialist (pulmonologist). That doctor put me through a few tests and came to the conclusion that I had developed ‘exercise induced asthma’. I was treated for that condition for a year with periodic checks. When things didn’t improve the doctor had me put into the hospital to have what is called an ‘open lung biopsy’. In that procedure they put you to sleep and go in and take a small sample of one of your lungs. They then examine it under a microscope and made the diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).

Luckily that doctor realized this was serious and something that needed to be treated properly and referred me to the U of M Lung Transplant program, one of the premier programs in the US. From that point on I saw a pulmonologist at the U who, coincidentally, was also doing research in IPF. I saw him from October 2001 until I was transplanted in October of 2005. After recovery from the surgery which took about a year, I have been able to do just about anything I want, slower but I am able to do it! The transplant allowed me to see the birth of my 6th grandchild, to travel, enjoy family times and to speak to groups on behalf of LifeSource, the organization that pairs up donors and recipients. I talk about signing up as an organ donor to everyone and anyone.”

On March 20, 2012, Sandy’s cousin, Judith, donated one of her kidneys to Ed. Another amazing gift of life! He continued to travel and participate in family life until he passed on January 14, 2013.

Tony Clinton was born May 8, 1991. He went to “Paint the sky with Jesus” on September 30, 2014, at the age of 23 years old, as a result of an automobile accident on September 28,2014. Tony was an adventurous, free spirit. He was so full of life, and had a deep relationship with Jesus. He loved expressing himself through art and music. He liked to inspire and make others smile. He lit up the room wherever he went. He had a beautiful, compassionate soul and enjoyed helping others through a smile, a positive quote, a rap, feeding the homeless or through his artistic expression.Tony enjoyed dancing, wrestling, fishing, football (especially the Dallas Cowboys), Mixed Martial Arts, paintball, music and spending time in Colorado. He loved ALL people and children of all ages. ” He is Awesome!” Tony was proud to be an organ donor and gave the gift of life to four families in need. Tony was able to donate his heart, liver and both kidneys and the gift of his body for the advancement of medical education and research at the U of M Anatomy Bequest Program. Tony was a blessing and a gift and touched the lives of many. Tony is deeply missed by his family and many, many best friends.

Randy was born on August 9, 1962 to Delwood and Vera. He spent a majority of his childhood years growing up on a farm outside of Breckenridge. He was a part of a Missouri Synod Lutheran family that had four boys and one girl, Randy being the youngest of the four boys. In 1972, Randy’s mother, Vera died of breast cancer after several years of fighting the disease. His dad was married to Shirley who joined the family in 1973. They continued to make their home on the Wilkin County farm. Randy and the boys helped around the farm with field work, chores and in the early years, helping to raise pigs. They enjoyed snowmobiling and many outdoors games of baseball, kickball, summers at the lake with skiing and tubing and hanging out with their friends and neighbors! In the teen years, Vagts Barn was a great hangout spot to meet friends and dance. The boys and Amy were all very good students and very smart, which paid off later for all of them!

Randy was an honor student and took a special interest in the math/science area. He spent much of his spare time either reading or participating in sports. He played basketball, football and ran track. His senior year he went out for cross country where he qualified and ran at the Minnesota State High School Meet. He was a part of the state track team where he ran the hurdles and was on the relay team and participated on the state basketball team, where brother Steven says he was a “stand-out.”He graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1980 but had to miss his actual graduation ceremony as the track team was running at the state meet. He spent his summers working at Sigco Research which later became Mycogen Seeds, working in the fields with sunflowers.

In the fall of 1980, Randy attended North Dakota State College of Science where he studied pre-engineering. He graduated with an AA from NDSCS in 1982. After science school, he went to NDSU where he graduated with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering Degree in March of 1985. Upon graduation, Randy looked at several job opportunities including the military officers program. He moved back to Breckenridge and started working full time at Sigco Research in the grower area until something opened up in his field of study. In the mid 80’s many manufacturing companies were downsizing and laying off their engineering staff, so finding an industrial engineering job was difficult. Any hiring being done in that field was typically engineers with previous experience that had been laid off.

In early spring of 1985, he met a girl Jana, through mutual friends at the bank where she worked. They officially hung out at Randy’s lake place on Pickerel Lake in June of 1985. Randy’s family showed up at the lake unexpectedly, so the party moved to the farm in Breckenridge. Jana and Randy ended up at the piano where Jana’s playing of “Come Sail Away” became a deal breaker! Sally Rudolph’s lessons for Randy paid off as Jana was equally impressed with his version of “Star of the East. The piano and music seemed to bring the two together. They attended a July 3rd party of friends and continued to flirt by playing footsie! Things moved slowly, especially slow for Jana, until August of 1985, when they officially started dating. A trip to Jana’s family lake home in Bemidji and trip down the Mississippi River sealed the deal as the start of an official relationship.

The first “I love you” came in August at Randy’s family lake place and by fall they decided they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together so they started shopping for rings. On December 12, 1985, Randy popped the big question at Jana’s apartment on Wilkin Ave. She said “yes” and on June 21, 1986 they were married in Crookston MN at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Philip Weiler officiating. Reception was in Jana’s parent’s backyard followed by a dance at the Northland Lodge. They took a week long honeymoon to Florida and a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas’s, visiting the site where “Gilligan’s Island” was filmed. This later became the ballad that Randy would sing to his kids to get them to go to sleep at night! After their honeymoon, they made their home in Breckenridge, renting an apartment, townhouse and house until purchasing their first home in 1992. Randy was away on business, so Jana looked at the house and purchased it sight on scene. Randy came home on the weekend and approved the purchase. They lived in that home until August of 1999 where they moved one block away to a bigger home on Maple Street. They lived there until Randy’s death in November of 2014.

Two weeks prior to Randy’s collapse, the dream home for Randy and Jana came on the market which again was about a block away on Crescent Drive. They bought and sold a house all in a weekend with the expectation that they would move in March of 2015. At the time, this was disappointing because they wanted to move “NOW” but God had a better plan. Wait….you will need that time Jana to say goodbye to your home and get yourself stronger! Many evening walks included traveling by the new home where they would dream about plans to make this “their” home.

Randy and Jana had three children together starting with their first child, Tyler, born on February 13, 1989. Tyler, like his dad, was smart and ended up taking up running. Tyler and his dad were buddies growing up playing with cars, playing catch and later running together. Four years later, they had their daughter, Emily on April 6, 1993. Emily was daddy’s little girl and played the Princess part very well. They had a very special bond and shared the love of reading! Their last child was born on November 7, 1996, Matthew! Matthew was the child that benefited the most from Randy’s career change in 2002. They spent their summers at home together. Car hunting and dreaming was their special bond with numerous trips through the car lots in town! Randy was extremely proud of his children and his greatest moments were spent with his family!

As a family they enjoyed spending time together watching movies, biking, taking walks, going to the zoo and playing games. In the later years, he enjoyed attending concerts with Jana and sometimes the kids, seeing Garth Brooks in concert 4 times. Lady Antebellum was one of his favorite concerts at the Fargodome! They also had many family trips together including Fort Myers, Florida, Disneyworld, Bozeman, Montana where they enjoyed many downhill ski trips, Reno and Squaw Valley, Yellowstone, Colorado, Disneyland and Seaworld in California, San Francisco, Washington DC, Corpus Christi, TX, Las Vegas, Nashville and many trips to the Minnesota Lakes. Boating, tubing and skiing were all fun summer sports they liked to do as a family. The July 4th parade was a personal favorite of Randy’s especially the latest theme of “Love Boat” ice cream. They served 100’s of mini cones to boaters around the lake. Randy loved to serve others and this was a true example of what he loved to do. He loved to make people laugh and smile!

Golf was an aspiration for Randy. He enjoyed working at it but just really never had enough time to perfect it. He read about it, took lessons, talked to his father-in-law about it and certainly had the passion for it. He and Jana would play in the annual Wildcat Open each June and his father in law and him would play the annual Bremer Golf Tournament each summer. Jana and he talked about their retirement and golf was going to be a “retirement” thing when they had more time to improve their game.

Randy spent over 17 years working for an agri-business. In the spring of 2001, Mycogen sold its Breckenridge; family owned business to Monsanto and moved the plant operations to Olivia. Randy took the severance package and ended up taking a job with a local manufacturing plant. It was a family owned business that restored old war planes and also made wood spindles for older style homes. He worked there for several years but then began wondering if this is how he wanted to spend the remainder his career. He prayed and talked about it with Jana and his local Pastor. After much deliberation, he decided to go back to school to get his Math Education degree. His love for math, mentoring kids and spending his summer with his family drove this decision to make a change. He had spent the last 17 years working long hours in the spring, summer and fall so this change would be good for him and his family. He went to MSUM which took about 2 years to complete his teaching degree.

During his college stay, he started having issues with losing feeling on his left side. He ended up at the doctor where they found a large tumor on his brain. Jana was out of town on business but got a frightening call from Randy telling her to come home immediately. At first they thought it was cancerous but within a day, they have determined that most likely it was not and that it was a meningioma, a tumor on the lining of the brain. It most likely had been there for years, perhaps since birth. He had surgery several days later which lasted over 8 hours but all went well. He was off of school for about a month, but still ended up graduating with honors in the spring of 2002. God was very much a part of this entire experience. They felt God’s presence and love during the entire year and beyond.

Upon graduation from MSUM, he accepted his first teaching job with Discovery Middle School in Fargo, ND teaching 8th grade algebra. He had a great first year experience, meeting several wonderful mentors and friends. The next year, he took a job at Barnesville School where he taught 7th-8th Middle School math. He spent 5 years in Barnesville, commuting everyday 60 miles. He made many good friends and mentors in that school as well.

In 2005, he had another medical issue pop up which was a real scare for the family. It was July 3, 2005 and he was tubing behind the boat on Lake Le Homme Dieu in Alexandria MN. All of the sudden, Randy let go and did not respond when he hit the water. Emily, 10 at the time, jumped into the water to save him. It turned out he had a grand mal seizure from the lack of taking his anti-seizure medicine. It was a scary few hours, but he was home on July 4th and all was well. He had gotten a little sloppy with taking his anti-seizure medicine after the brain surgery and his body had a seizure. Once he went back on his medicine consistently, he was fine. He lost his driving privileges for about six months so ended up commuting with another teacher for the remainder of the year. God was once again faithful to Randy and his family!

In 2007, Randy received a call from the High School Math teacher in Breckenridge saying there was an opening for High School Math. The idea of teaching in his “home” school was very exciting for Randy so he accepted the job where he would be teaching Geometry and Algebra to 9th-10th graders. His first hour class, in a new (old) school, in the front row, he had his daughter Emily for geometry. It was a great year! Having a teacher in the house had a lot of fringe benefits for the kids and Jana. He taught in the high school for one year and then the school had to make some financial cuts. Being the teacher with least seniority, he ended up getting one class period cut and moved to the middle school where he taught 7-8 math. By the next year, he was full time again but stayed in the Middle School where he taught until his death in November of 2014.

In addition to teaching math, he also coached the high school and middle school cross country teams, junior high track and middle school knowledge bowl. His greatest past time was spent reading running books & magazines, attending workshops about running, watching running on TV or past Olympics, including many VHS tapes from previous games and reading the internet on ways to improve his runners. He had several kids qualify for the state meet during his tenure and loved seeing the kids develop into great people! In addition to coaching, he enjoyed running himself. His greatest satisfaction was the year his son, Tyler, qualified and ran at the Minnesota State High School Cross Country meet. No one from BHS has run at the state meet since 1979 when Randy himself was a runner. He thoroughly enjoyed following his kids sports, especially the cross country and track years. Randy also ran the summer Hershey Track program for kids ages 8-12. Many years kids qualified to run at the state level and once year he had a student qualify to run at Hershey Pennsylvania. Later on, he especially proud of the day he ran the half marathon in Fargo with Tyler. His last earthly coaching was with wife, Jana, who he helped start a faithful walking/running program to get her and him in better shape. God was once again preparing this family for was to come in November.

Randy was an avid reader, enjoying Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn, John Grisham and many other similar type authors. He was known for reading and re-reading many of his favorite novels. He also enjoyed reading sports illustrated and consumer reports. When he started researching Jana’s shoes, she had to drawn a line! He loved old westerns, any war movie and the history channel. In addition, Randy was a strong supporter of the Republican Party and took a special interest in following that front. He often was frustrated being in the teaching profession where a majority of his colleagues were on the opposite side of the political fence.

He was a kind and loving husband and best friend for over 28 years to Jana, proud father to Tyler, Emily, Matthew and father in law to Mitchell. He was especially proud of the day that Mitchell asked him to be a part of the “proposal” to Emily. Mitchell had requested permission to date his daughter and later called to ask permission to marry her. In March of 2014, Mitchell surprised Emily with a ring on Sanibel Island, Florida, her favorite beach ever! Randy and Jana were a part of the surprise and Randy placed the “ring” on the sand castle for Emily to find. A very proud moment for a father and his daughter! Even though he was not be able to walk her down the aisle at her wedding, she very much had the permission and approval of her marriage to Mitchell.

He was the loving son to Delwood and Vera, step son to Shirley, and son-in-law to Gene and Marilyn. He was a little brother to Gary, Steve, Keith and big brother to Amy. He was a faithful brother in law to Darlene, Rick, Mike & Betty, Todd & Barb, Kathy & Jim. He was a blessed godparent to Katie, Annie & Adam. He was a fun uncle to 8 nephews, 8 nieces. He was dedicated pet owner to Max, his dog and Cassie, his cat. He was a patient teacher, compassionate coach, awesome mentor, kind and witty friend to many and a faithful member of the United Methodist Church.

Randy was a child of God with strong but quiet faith. He was confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in 1974 and continued his religious learning by reading his bible faithfully and attended church regularly. He read book after book to gain more knowledge and insight of God’s kingdom. He loved being challenged by God to better understand and grow in his faith. He was the High School Sunday School teacher for many years and participated in the church choir and annual Choir Cantata, singing in the tenor section. Jana was extremely proud of his involvement in the music program, because it brought them together in God’s house! He served as the church’s chair for the trustees for several years and served on the church council for many years. Randy led his family with his strong attributes of faith, integrity, honesty, hard work, dry sense of humor, kindness, love, patience and excellent an example of what Jesus would do. His faith never faltered regardless of the trials and tribulations that he faced in his 52 years on earth. Randy was not the type to boast about his faith but rather he lived it.

Randy loved to spend time with his family, friends and typically this would involve a nice beer or wine and food. He was a connoisseur of dark or “weird” beer and always made the cook feel good because he rarely said no to “more” food. The weekend prior to his collapse, friends were over to enjoy some of that good food and beverage, a fitting way to spend his last weekend on earth.

On Sunday, October 25, Randy left the house about 7:15 a.m. without saying a word to Jana. He went for a run with his dog, Max which was not real strange, but in the last few months he had spent most of his exercise time with his wife and son Matthew. At 8:06 he collapsed on the side of the road from what turned out to be a heart attack. He had a widowmaker heart attack and was out for over 30 minutes. They revived him at St. Francis Hospital and then airlifted him to Sanford Hospital in Fargo ND. They put two stents in and repaired the heart. The loss of air to his brain caused life changing brain damage. They put him in a medically induced coma for several days hoping to see the brain repair itself. Tests were conclusive, he had suffered too much damage along with several strokes so 6 days later, with his wife, children and family at his side, Randy passed away in the operating room at Sanford. He was a donor through the Life Source Organization where he donated his liver, 2 kidneys, corneas, lung, skin, bones and tissue. They also were able to send his heart to a research center. Randy had chosen to be donor on his driver’s license, but before the family knew that, they had also decided that it seems like the thing Randy would want them to do. Give someone else a chance to have a better life, a healthier world! It was a very selfless act but one that was so fitting to Randy and his personality.

Randy was the type that would arrive hours early for a concert to get a good place in line and then in the end hold the door open for many to go in front of him. He was thoughtful and giving and very concerned for others, at all times. He was often teased about his inability to make a decision like when he had to pick out a greeting card for Jana. She always received three. One serious card, one funny card and one just because! He was teased that he couldn’t decide but he said it’s because he cared so much, he wanted to make sure she knew it.

A service of remembrance was held at the Breckenridge Middle School on November 5th where over 1,000 people attended the prayer service. The funeral was held in Thursday at the school as well with another 1,000 in attendance. A true testament to the wonderful life Randy lived and the many lives that he impacted with his profession, his friendship, his kindness and his faith! The family started a “Run with Randy” movement to keep Randy’s memory alive and is raising funds to build an indoor running track in Breckenridge. Over 1,000 tshirts with the “Run with Randy” logo and 100’s of blessing bracelets have been sold to date and more each and every day. A Facebook page was started “Run with Randy” and has over 1,400 likes on the page. In addition, a blog has been started in Runwithrandy.com. It’s updated typically a couple of times a month. There have been 25,000 views on caringbridge.com and Twitter has been tweeting about #runwithrandy as well as Instagram. It’s the mission of the family to keep his memory alive as long as they can! In the spring, they awarded the first “Run with Randy” 8th grade award presented to an 8th grader that had displayed many of attributes of Randy. Congratulations Nolan!

In addition to the walking track, it is a goal of the family to someday, meet and get to know the many recipients that Randy was able to help preserve or return to a healthier life. Over 62 lives were directly impacted by Randy’s donation and the families touched by this generous gift are even larger. The family is hopeful that a meeting will take place, when the time is right! Until then, they continue to pray with our “Club 8:06” and ask God to continue to protect, love and guide them each step of the way! They ask for your prayers and thoughts as they continue to travel this path called life in hopes of living each day closer to what God has intended for you and them!

Lincoln was born on December 20, 2010. We spent 21 days in the NICU with him day and night. He was diagnosed with Spastic Quadriplegia Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Cortical Vision Impairment (CVI) and developmental delays. We can vividly remember getting the news of Lincoln’s brain damage. We were heart broken. Fear engulfed us. It was then that we received our first lesson for parenting a child with special needs. God is in control and we must seek Him for strength and guidance. God is always there for those who call on Him.

The first year and half of Lincoln’s life was full of fear. He battled seizures, Infantile Spasms (the most catastrophic form of childhood epilepsies), hypothyroidism, RSV and countless modifications and trials of anti-seizure medications. It was then we received our second lesson for parenting a child with special needs. Believe and have faith in God and the doctors He puts in your path. They are working His will.

Lincoln attended therapy at least four times a week. He worked with great therapists from the Birth-Three Program of the Lakeville School District who have now become life-long friends of ours. He also worked with great therapists from Gillette Specialty Healthcare who have also become lifelong friends. Lincoln received Botox and Phenol Injections into his tight muscles. He saw a PMR doctor, Ophthalmologist, Endocrinologist, Neurologist, Pediatrician and an Orthopedic Surgeon. That’s what our brave little soul endured.

Our third lesson for parenting a child with special needs presented itself here. A parent must continue to stay positive and take one day at a time. Thanks to my husband, I was reminded of this daily. Slow and steady wins the race. Lincoln would do things in his time. I enjoyed cheering him on his journey. Lincoln loved when his dad and I would be loud. He loved loud and happy. He would smile his huge smile, laugh, and often snort. It was the best.

Lincoln grew and accomplished so very much in the last year of his life. He loved going to school with his teachers. When asked if he wanted to go to school, his smile would shine. Lincoln’s trunk control and vision improved greatly. He loved racing the neighbor girls on his new adaptive bike. He loved going for walks and stopping at the pond down the street to feed the ducks. The ducks knew when he was near. As soon as Linc shook his bag of corn, they came swimming across the pond as fast as they could and came up to the sidewalk to greet him. They were gone the morning he died and didn’t return for a few days. I often thought they went to heaven with him for a while.

Lincoln loved his red wheelchair. It was his comfort zone. He loved when daddy would push him fast and always asked for more. He loved the water. It was there he felt free. He could kick and swim and laugh. Lincoln loved peanut butter and ice cream. This was a go to when all else failed. He definitely takes after his momma.

Lincoln brought family, friends, neighbors, and strangers together to form Team Linc. It is almost unexplainable. Team Linc started as a name of our group that walked in The Baby Steps 3K for the NICU Unit at Children’s Hospital, The Epilepsy Stroll, and the Pedal in Place for Cerebral Palsy. Team Linc has grown into so much more. Team Linc is a family. A group of people who shine love, radiate hope, express acceptance, and honor my best boy. When I see someone in a Team Linc shirt, my heart is overcome with joy, happiness and love. I know they are remembering my best boy and honoring his beautiful spirit. Linc lived up to his name. He linked everyone together.

Lincoln accomplished more in 3 1/2 years than we ever thought possible. He was a remarkable, infectious, energetic ray of sunshine. His giggle was uncontrollable at times. It was contagious. He loved to snuggle, pull hair, lick like a lizard, read books, knock down blocks, wrestle with dad and play with his cousins and friends. The smile on his face and the look in his eyes when he was around his cousins and friends always melted my heart. He loved them.

We truly believe Lincoln was sent here to teach us all how to love a little more, welcome God into our hearts, share joy with others, come together as family and friends for good, accept all differences, and share kindness and love. You could not look at Lincoln without smiling. He was always happy. He brought people closer together and taught us what is truly important in life. Team Linc is truly amazing. Was being a parent of a boy with Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy in OUR plan? No. It was in God’s plan. Lincoln has brought so many people to God’s love. We thank Him for the 3 years, 8 months, and 1 day we had with our Super Linc.

Lincoln was a tissue donor and was able to donate his heart so that the valves could be transplanted. He also donated cartilage from his knees. We love you, buddy! We will always be proud of you!

My son Steven , He lived to ride . He loved the motocross life. He competed in the sport till he was 18. Then he got hurt he had to quit for awhile. He fell in love with a wonderful woman they had a daughter. He was all better but he knew he had to be safe and there for his daughter. Then when she was six years old he decided I need to ride again. He bought a Honda 250 . That was Friday night Aug.5. On Saturday August 6th the race was on. That was his last ride somehow things all went haywire, he was approaching the jump he was in the air and the bike and him were on the ground. It was the last time my son opened his eyes. That is when we found out he was a donor. I was very proud that he chose to be a donor. After awhile life source sent us a letter saying where some of his organs and such went. It meant so much to me to know that. What a wonderful way to keep the memory of a loved one alive. What you leave behind is not what is ENGRAVED IN STONE monuments, but what is woven into the Lives of Others. Please choose to donate!

I’m go grateful Tim came into my life as it was meant to be. God gave us a wonderful gift of true love which is eternal. He was a caring and kind person and would help anyone in need. He showered me with love and always stood by my side. His favorite holiday was Valentine’s Day which was his hallmark. Every year he’d take me to different places to eat which were all so memorable. He even proposed to me on Valentines Day in 2005 which makes the day a very very special one. He always treated me like a lady and was very considerate of my needs. We spent almost every minute together which I’ll always treasure. He loved life to the fullest and treated me so special. He was a special man with a beautiful smile that could light up a room. He impacted people by his personality and was always friendly to all. God Bless my Tim my love my life-always a proud vet

August 17, 2004 changed our lives forever as that is the day that our beautiful daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend was taken so very suddenly by a drunk driver. Briana was a 20 year old vibrant college sophomore attending the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN and on the evening of August 16, 2004 while driving home she was hit and killed by a drunk driver. Her compassion for life and the love of her family and friends was truly evident in her beautiful smile. Something important to Briana was to be an organ donor and that unselfish wish gave the gift of life to many people and a piece of Briana lives on in all of them.

Too much to say. Just know Persephonee was the most amazing thing in the world to us. She gave and taught more than I thought possible for a 5 1/2 year old. Every day had the possibility of an adventure and she treated it as such. She shared everything, thought everything was amazing or possible, and loved without prejudice. I miss her, how she saw the world, and how much of a better man she made me. She was lost to us and gave what she could in the end, helping three others continue on this magical journey of life.

Growing up, my brother Dustin and I were inseparable. We were part of a very small family. Neither of our fathers were around for our childhood, and we were OK with that. We had a beautiful, strong, independent mother who showed love to the end of the universe. Grandma and grandpa were our rock. They stuck by our side through thick and thin and never gave up on us. Grandpa naturally became the father figure in our lives. Whatever we needed/wanted, grandpa always made sure we had. Life was great. I couldn’t have asked for a better family to be born into. I never had to worry about having a roof over my head or food on the table. I remember being happy almost all the time.

I never knew pain until Dustin was taken from me. Part of me died the day we took him to his final resting place. The part of me I so desperately want back. Ten years later, I’m still lost. Numb. I try to look on the bright side, but some days I find difficulty in that. I remember one Xmas, we were opening gifts. My mom checks her mailbox everyday, however she decided not to Xmas eve. As we all were opening presents Xmas morning, my mom goes to check the mail. As she came inside I remember her saying “I knew there was a reason I didn’t check the mail yesterday.” Here she is holding a large envelope from life source. She thought of it as a present. As she starts reading it to herself, the tears stream down her face. She hands it to my grandma, who tears up as well. When it’s handed to me I realize it is a letter from an organ recipient. In the letter I read that a family in Illinois received part of Dustin’s liver. The recipient? A beautiful little 2 year old baby boy named joel:) included with the letter, there were 2 pictures of Joel. One of the pictures was of him with so many cords and wires helping him stay alive.I remember thinking “no child (or parent) should EVER have to go through that!” Even in the “hospital” picture, to me, this baby boy is perfect. I find comfort knowing a child received part of Dustin. I have not heard from the family since, but I hope this boys body didn’t reject the organ. I pray everything worked and still is working. I would love to meet this strong family my brother helped. Maybe one day…

My life story as well as my daughter’s did a complete 360 on November 2, 2010. My husband of 16 years passed away suddenly. Though through it all my, relationship with God, family & friends has seen us through it. I remember only a couple hours after finding out that Al had passed away I received a phone call from LifeSource about donating Al’s organ’s. Though I was numb and it was incredibly difficult to answer so many questions I knew it’s what I needed to do. I thought I understood the importance of donating organs etc. but it wasn’t until months after Al passed away that I truly understood. I’ve received a few letters from recipients who were helped from Al’s donation. I was told that because of Al being a donor he helped 66 people. To hear just some of those stories of people that were helped from his donation has greatly helped me in the grieving process. I can’t express enough the importance of being an organ donor. Though we will always miss him, he is always in our hearts and memories forever. Thankful for the time we had with him and because he had a relationship with God as I do I will see him again one day in Heaven.

Nicholas was an amazing little boy that has taught me so much about life! Nicholas was born with a rare genetic muscular disease x-linked myotubular myopathy, that made it hard for him to move or even breath. He always had a smile on his little chubby cheek face. He was adorable and spent a lot of time in the hospital getting lots of attention for being a flirt from the nurses. He was strong and got to spend time at home where he just adored being a little brother. Nicholas was only with us for nine short months but taught us how fragile and important it is to spend life not worrying about the small stuff. He passed from choking we we’re able to get him back and then he was on life support. We were told the news that no parent should ever have to face. Nicholas was no longer the same happy, little guy we all knew. We donated his tissues, valves in hopes that another family would not lose the light of there life. On Mothers day two years after his passing we recieved news that another boy recieved a piece of Nicholas. As a mother that grieves for her son everyday I hope that family is doing well and that some of Nicholas’s spirit is with them.

Tyler was a great son, brother, a loving husband, father and loyal friend. He loved sports; especially the Vikings.

He had been a good gymnast and a great Black-Belt in Karate, which he received at 14. He was also a big tease. His mom was gullible.

When he was age 5 he took dancing. He never lived that down; although he was very good at entertaining in more ways than one. During his primary school days he was given an RX for his allergies and spent a recess sleeping on the playground parking lot. When he was sleeping, some kids took his new shoes and hid them to never be found. He also at that time, whenever company came over, he liked to tickle their feet. He also would go out to play tidy and clean and come back like he had been mud wrestling. The neighbors nicknamed him “Pig Pen.” He thought it was great. He was shy around strangers and large groups. In order to deal with it; he put himself in to character of someone else. Fortunately, he outgrew most of that.

When he was about 12, he was riding in the car with his siblings and a friend. They all were talking about what they wanted to be when they grew up. A friend said…A doctor, his brother said a business man, his sister was unsure. Tyler spoke up very sure of himself and declared “I am going to be a Game Show Host.” His mom had to pull the car over because she was laughing so hard.

When he died, he was a tall lanky guy, with a wife, Kristin and a beautiful baby, Scarlett. He loved his sports, and was a great cook. Who would have thought he would go young and fast. He is missed by his family and his friends.

If I could tell anyone who benefited from Tyler’s donation it would be: Tyler would have been so proud to have helped you in any way he could.

Here is a prayer to him:

If roses Grow in heaven, Lord, please pick a bunch for me; place them in my son’s arms for me. Tell him that I love him. When he turns to smile, place a kiss upon his cheek and hold him for awhile; because remembering him is easy; I do it every day. There is an ache within my heart that will never go away. In loving memory…….Tyler, Your loved ones.

My name is Marsha Meunier and I received the gift of a new liver in July of 2003. I am single and am the oldest of 4 other siblings. I was employed by ‘Ma Bell”, Qwest and Century Link for 36 years.

In April of 2002, I was diagnosed with end stage liver failure and immediately listed for transplant. I was very much in denial at that point as to what this meant and the difficult journey ahead for both myself and my family, many of whom became caregivers as the disease progressed. For the next 18 months, I attempted to continue working in spite of the many hospitalizations and losing the ability to live on my own. It was a long road and without the love and support of my family I may have lost hope.

During the week of the 4th of July 2003, I took a turn for the worse and was immediately hospitalized. I was very near the end of life having gone into a hepatic coma and my only hope was that a liver would become available. On the evening of July 31st, the nurses came in to my room about 10 p.m. and said a donor had been found and that I would be going to surgery at 1:00 a.m. What a whirlwind that was – many emotions. I was afraid of the surgery, happy that the day had come and at the same time in tears that someone had lost their life and were giving me the ultimate gift.

After 2 surgeries to replace my liver, I recovered in less than a week and went home. I returned to work six weeks later and felt better than I had in a very long time.

At work after transplant, I was feeling that there was more for me to give in this life and I started volunteering for LifeSource. That feeling continued and in 2006, I decided to retire from Century Link. Shortly thereafter, I was lucky to be able to accept a position at LifeSource. I work in Accounts Payable at LifeSource and am so passionate about our mission. It has allowed me to attend many events for donor families, work to increase donor designation and is just a way to “give back”.

My second chance at life has allowed me to be present for family weddings, the births of great nieces and nephews and to be a caregiver for my mother in her last months. I competed in three Transplant Games – Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and Houston winning a bronze medal in bowling. This gift has given me 11 years more of life with more to come!

I have written to my donor family thanking them for the courageous, selfless decision they made to donate but have not had any response. I am OK with that – I have met many donor families through my work at LifeSource and I so admire all of them for their generosity and continued support of donation.

I have always had “Donor” marked on my license but never thought in a million years that I would be at the receiving end of that decision made by someone else.

Lucas Paul, our first born son, was our angel from the moment we laid eyes on him. He was a whopping 8lbs 5oz and full of life! We were so surprised to see that he had some dark hair. He was the spitting image of his father. From the day he was born he was a very happy, smiley little boy. He was attached to his green blanket and pacifier. He loved to read “Animal Alphabet” and play with tractors and deer antlers. Lucas was an all around BOY blowing duck calls and riding the lawn tractor with daddy. Bath time was always one of mommy’s favorites because he would laugh so hard when he would splash. Lucas was a big cuddler and good at it too!

Lucas was a friendly little boy in the 15 months of his big life. He would wave at everyone passing by him when shopping with mommy. He had the biggest heart and loved all those that were part of his life.

Lucas went to baby Heaven unexpectedly on February 27, 2015. The day that tragically changed our lives. The next day we were asked about organ donation and we knew right away that it would be something great that he could do since he LOVED people. Lucas donated his heart valves to help save other little lives so they could experience the big world and spare their mommy and daddy a tragic life. Lucas is such a hero in so many ways at such a young age! Our “Bubba” is now resting peacefully but will never be forgotten.

Tiffany was an absolute joy from the moment she was born. She always had a smile on her face and an infectious laugh. She loved to swim and go shopping, especially to buy purses. She enjoyed watching the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Wild. She worked in health care and cared deeply for others.

Tiffany was always a very giving person and had decided she wanted to be an organ donor and give the gift of life after she had passed her driver’s license test in high school.

She graduated from cosmetology school after high school and met the love of her life Nick, and was happily married on July 14, 2007. She had decided to change her profession and go into health care, and became a certified nursing assistant because of her passion for helping others.

On February 20, 2009, she experienced sudden symptoms of a severe headache which was caused by an acute subarachnoid hemorrhage. Her passing left a huge void for those of us who were fortunate enough to have her in our life.

She donated her wonderful, giving heart, both kidneys and tissue.

After she had passed away, we were contacted by her heart recipient. He had sent us the most beautiful letter of appreciation and we feel a connection that words cannot describe. It was such a relief to hear from him, to know how much he appreciated Tiffany’s gift of life.

July 13, 2013 Dad fell from a ladder, broke 9 ribs and punctured a lung. He dealt with unbelievable complications for 14 months. Until finally, we felt hope when Dad got a tracheotomy. His color was great, he was MUCH more comfortable and we were SO relieved. Then, August 14, 2014 shortly after midnight, Mom called and said, “Something went wrong. Dad died. Make arrangements. Love you, bye.”

My sister and I made flight plans since we had to travel from out of state. My brother lived just 45 minutes away, so he was able to get to Mom FAST. Later that morning, I was talking to Mom, telling her my flight information. When she got another call. I waited a very long time for her to click back to me, and eventually hung up and called my brother. I asked him who she was talking to. He said that she was talking to someone about Dad’s medical history for his donation(s).

No one ever questioned Dad donating his body to help others. When we were all together, we made necessary arrangements. At such an unbelievably difficult time in our lives, we were all SO amazed that Dad could help up to 60 people with he cornea and tissue donations.

Naturally, we reminisced during our mourning.

Here is a quick glimpse of Dad:

Peter Carl Lillie was the eldest of 5 children and was born in Rochester, MN. He and Mom met in college. Dad was a very proud American who served in the US Air Force. His love for family, friends, travelling, nature, and the outdoors were apparent to anyone who knew him. He respected animals and passed that on to his children and grandchildren. His dogs were just like children to him and even got to sleep under the covers next to him!

Dad loved life and had a “larger than life” personality. He was SO intelligent that he was a very successful self-made business man. Dad traveled a lot when he started his own company. His customers looked forward to his visits and he inevitably made numerous life-long friends. Dad always made people laugh. Although he had a “tough-guy” exterior, he would gladly give someone the shirt off his back.

The new normal without Dad is tough. Knowing that he wanted to donate life and help SO many people, brings peace and comfort to each of us. I just pray that many others will follow his lead by becoming a donor of life.

Bob was born with faulty heart valves but you never would have known that based on how he lived his life. He was a great athlete at Washburn High School in Minneapolis, making All City in football and Honorable Mention – All State. Throughout his life, he played singles tennis with what some would call “reckless abandon”. Later in life he became a biker and a runner. But at age 44 he started having premature ventricular contractions – his heart was beating wildly and out of control. It was enlarged after years of pumping and pumping to get blood flowing to his body only to have it leak back into his heart through those faulty valves. He had to have emergency surgery where they replaced two of his heart valves with mechanical valves. The hope was that his heart would diminish in size if it didn’t have to work so hard. I mean, that’s what happens to our abs if we quit doing sit-ups, right? Ha! Not so much with Bob’s heart. After a couple of years of feeling “normal”, Bob started noticing he was more fatigued. He could no longer run for exercise, just walk. He was a little winded walking a flight of stairs. His cardiologist said it was time to put him on the heart transplant list because it could take 2 years to get a heart. Two years!! Being the loving wife, I wanted to do something to help . . . so I began volunteering at LifeSource. I went out to different groups and told Bob’s story in hopes that more people would put donor on their driver’s license.

Fast forward two years – through months of less energy, more naps but still no heart. Then Bob experienced an episode of heart failure which landed him in the cardiac ICU at Abbott Northwestern. His cardiologist decided he needed to stay there until a heart was found. This put him at the top of the list, so we figured the heart would become available any moment. But moments turned to days which turned into weeks. On Saturday mornings I would bring our 2 year old pup to the hospital for a visit – he missed his “dad” and Bob missed Jack. On Saturday nights I would bring take out pasta and a VCR movie and we’d have date night. We spent our 5th wedding anniversary in the ICU – the nurses put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door to his room. I’m not sure what they thought was going to happen in there – Bob was hooked up to all kinds of cardiac telemetry that they were watching at the nurse’s station. Any change in his heart rhythm and they would have been through that door in a flash!

While waiting, Bob didn’t want to lose muscle by lying in bed all day. He counted the 1 foot tiles on the floor of a big circle hallway and calculated how many of them made a mile. Then he pushed his IV pole along his mile long circular course twice a day to stay as active as possible. He had one false start while there – a heart became available and I got the call at home – but by the time I got to the hospital and Bob had started the surgery prep, they decided it wasn’t the right heart for him. He also experienced the death of someone who had become a friend as they both waited in the ICU for a heart. His friend got her heart, but then experienced an episode of massive rejection and died before she was able to go home.

After two years of waiting at home and 89 days in the cardiac ICU, Bob got his heart on November 3, 1998. He woke up in recovery to find out that Jesse Ventura was our new governor. He thought he was still under anesthesia . . . he kept asking me if it could be true!

We are forever grateful to Bob’s donor, Stephen. We met his 5 sisters and his parents and stay in touch – mostly to let them know that Bob is taking good care of Stephen’s heart. It has been nearly 17 years and Bob continues to passionately live life with his new heart. He participated in the Transplant Olympics that were held here in Minnesota, bringing home a bronze medal in tennis. Now that he has retired he is an AVID Pickleball player – he plays 4-5 mornings a week and has participated in many tournaments. We both work hard to make the LifeSource Golf Classic in Memory of Terri Opp a success each year. Ironically, Terri was a young woman who died 19 years ago at the young age of 26 while waiting for a heart transplant that never came. The money raised by the golf tournament is used by the LifeSource Public Affairs department to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation. Our hope is that soon we can say that donor designation is at 100% and no one has to wait for the life-saving gift that Stephen so generously gave Bob.

A Road to Transplant: Roads are filled with bumps, potholes, curves, detours, and road closed signs. Just like the roads we drive on, so goes the road to transplant. This is my story of the long road I had to travel to survive.

I would like to introduce myself: my name is Bill Carlson, Veteran of the Vietnam war and retired Custom Cabinetmaker. I”m married to my High School sweetheart Naomi! I can now call her my caregiver. We have 3 daughters: Lisa, the oldest, Andrea,in the middle!, and Suzy, my little one, as I call her. Andrea and her husband Mike have blessed the world with a beautiful girl, Gabrielle (Gabby) who is full of life and a big handful just like her Mom! Suzy has blessed the world with two of the bestest dudes in the land! Preston the oldest and Parker the little one. Big P & Little P. Those two love baseball. Little League, that is.

My road starts way back in 1995 – that’s when I was first diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF). In most cases, CHF is very controllable with medication and possibly a pacemaker or internal cardiac defibrillator. In my case, it was a little more complicated. I had a side effect called Arrhythmic Angina.

A big word that meant my heart rate would not hold a steady rhythm – one minute it would start to climb for no reason, possibly up to 200 BPM, and then it would drop suddenly. This is where the pacemaker defibrillator comes into play. Getting a shock from that device is very similar to a horse kick, they say. Personally, I would take the horse any day.

As time went on there were many trips back and forth to cardiology. I was informed that at some point in time I would need a HEART TRANSPLANT!! What?? I kept telling myself, ‘I’m not that sick!’ My friends and family had a different outlook – to them it was more obvious. I kept plugging along feeling like I had lead shoes and it was getting harder and harder to do my job. The last firing of the defibrillator was about to take place.

I ended up at a smaller hospital after the horse (defibrillator) kicked me several times. I lost count after 7 times. In the Emergency room they were first guessing that I had a Arrhythmic episode but one doctor heard something he didn’t like when he listened to my chest. He suggested I be moved to the University of Minnesota Hospital ASAP. I do not remember the ambulance ride down there. After some testing they discovered failing valves in my left ventricle. Here is where the road gets full of potholes and detour signs! The valves had to be replaced that day. At this point in time my sweetheart Naomi was in full control, making all my decisions for me.

I was brought into the OR readied for surgery and when my chest was opened they found another bump in the road! A massive infection surrounding my heart. I was placed on mechanical support in the form of a Bi Vad (Bi ventricle assisting device) in the hopes of treating the infection. After 6 weeks being sedated and immobilized they took a chance and implanted a LVAD, an internal pump that would help my heart pump blood though out my body. Now the road gets bumpier! After 5 months, 2 open chest surgeries and a battery operated pump I get to go home! Not yet on a transplant list, I knew nothing about. In order for me to qualify to get listed for a transplant, I need to gain weight!! First time in my life a doc said I was skinny!! I also needed to get much stronger. Months in the hospital had taken its toll. But I was determined not to fail! After several months of gaining weight and and rehab I was finally listed.

Now some more curves in the road and a detour sign or two, I persisted. My call finally came on June 7th 2009 at 2230 hrs (10:30 for laymen). I was about to enter what you can call “The Transplant Zone!” A whole new road without a very good map to follow. I was transplanted overnight on June 7th of 2009. Actual date is June 8th. My life was saved by a total stranger who thought it might be a good idea to donate. I wasn’t used to this new feeling I had, I almost felt GOOD! This time, it was only a short stay in the hospital. Just 11 days after my transplant I walked out the front door on my own power! I was hoping the road would smooth out but I still had a couple of hills to climb! But not very high ones. After a few months and more rehab I started to feel almost human again! A new feeling for me.

I started to wonder who had just lost a loved one that had saved my life through donation. I found out I could write to the family and express my gratitude, so I took the chance that a total stranger may return my letter. It took a year and a half and several letters from me before I finally got that letter in return. I learned that a young man, Iraq war Veteran I might add, had donated his heart to me. I was so sad to learn that he had a young son at the time of his passing. And I thought my road was a rough one. I would thank this young man everyday when I woke up, and every time I did something that I had a hard time with prior to transplant. Like being able to climb more than 3 stairs at a time.

I have gone on to meet in person the mom and dad of my Hero, Tommy. I even got to meet his little boy. I just hope and pray that the road for this loving family is a smooth one, no potholes or big bumps. I try to honor my Hero in every way possible. May he rest in peace.

Where is this road taking me next? Well, I’ll tell you I’ve discovered volunteer work is really cool! I’m a LifeSource Donate Life Ambassador and speak about the importance of donation in schools, hospitals or anywhere else some one will listen! I also volunteer at the hospital where I get the opportunity to talk with people that are just looking for the map of where this crazy road to transplant begins! And on that note I would like to quote a well known great person, Mr. Red Skelton. “Good night and God Bless”

Kayla was quiet to those she didn’t know and outgoing, kind and funny to those who knew her best. As her mother I did not think she was quiet, she is my only kid to cut her own hair, write on the walls with crayon and she always got into my make-up and jewelry. She did this at grandma’s house too and grandma laughed and took pictures, I am sure that is why she kept doing it! She was a high honor student; she played the flute and loved to travel. She liked drawing and listening to music.

Her favorite candy was skittles and she wrote this paragraph:

“Life is like a bag of Skittles, you never know what color you will get. No matter which color Skittle you are given, the result can always become positive if it is perceived well. The Skittle you receive may not be your favorite, but make the best of what you are given. Never regret mistakes in the past because they make everyone who they are today. Life will be good if you make the most of the Skittles whether you receive the bright happiness of the lemon yellow, the sour of the lime green, or the sweetness of the strawberry red.”

She did not like making decisions and when she passed her driving test she asked me if she should check the box to be a registered organ and tissue donor. I told her that was a personal decision she needed to make on her own. She thought about it for a minute and said, “I am going to check the box. I would like to know that if something ever happened to me that I would be able to help other people.”

Meet my mom, Jan Wendland. Mom was taken too soon from us. Mom was only 56 years old and after her death, we found out from the doctor that she lived 7 years longer than they thought. At the time of her passing, she was grandma to one, Sarah. Sarah and grandma were inseparable and loved spending time together. Mom had heart issues and had a defibrillator. For whatever reason, it did not work. Mom was in a coma for a couple days. When LifeSource came to the hospital to ask us about donation it was an easy decision for the family. My 2 brothers, my dad and I said yes to donation instantly. Mom was all about giving during life that we wanted that to continue in her death. She left a legacy of giving. We found out that mom donated eyes and tissue. We don’t know the impact of her donations but we are sure that it greatly helped those that received. For my daughter Sarah (age 9 at the time) it was a comfort knowing that part of grandma was going to continue living for a long time. Since that time Sarah and I have worked a couple different State Fairs with LifeSource. We also talk to everyone we know about being an organ/tissue donor. Mom left a legacy. It is a legacy we want to continue. We all miss her every day but find comfort in knowing that she was able to help others. She would like that very much.

At nearly 16, Katrina was starting to make her own choices. She was blossoming, finding her voice and making decisions based on her own wants and desires. She was just starting to tell the world who she was and who she wanted to be.

Deb and Tom, Katrina’s parents, describe a daughter who was active, slim, and sometimes shy, but always able to eat an entire #3 at McDonald’s—that’s a Quarter Pounder with cheese, in case you were wondering. Nikia, her older sister, talks about Katrina’s love of ice skating and her teen adventures as a young girl growing into her womanhood.

Skating was Katrina’s passion. Her dedication was her own—she always wanted to be on the ice. As her mother says, “It was her canvas.” She could move and glide and twirl and spin, all to express her thoughts, her ideas, her feelings, and her beliefs.

Not yet 16, Katrina was coming into her own. A teen, an ice skater, a young woman with a canvas to fill.

Then, a car accident left Katrina with life-ending injuries. In the midst of sorrow and tragedy, Deb and Tom made the decision to give others in need the gifts of life and healing by working with LifeSource to help Katrina become a donor.

Katrina’s canvas, her expression, her blossoming young life was cut short. In that brevity, though, her parents saw hope. Their daughter could help others through donation and transplantation.

Today, the Gustafson family finds peace in the fact that Katrina helped others live longer, stronger, healthier lives. Her legacy is ongoing. Her hometown ice rink features her name, and honors both her talents and her gifts of life. Her canvas has been covered with the hope and light and life she gave to others. At not yet 16, she made a difference in this world.

Through our loss of our youngest son, Mason Daniel Kolb, we have some small victory. Mason donated his organs, and saved 5 lives, and improved 21 lives with his musculoskeletal donation. To us, that is astonishing, and Mason is our hero! Mason passed away due to an accident at home in 2011, causing Brain Death. He was two months shy of his 2nd birthday.

Mason was born in October 2009. He was truly a gift from God, since after our first son, Callan, was born in 2008, we were not supposed to be able to have more children due to infertility issues. But Mason was stubborn – from fetus and onward! He was a very healthy baby boy, and growing into an inquisitive toddler. He adored his big brother and wanted to do everything just like Callan. Mason was an observer and would sit back and just take everything in. He was incredibly smart. He had a naughty streak in him too, but we could never ever stay mad at him when he did something naughty. He would give us what we call his “squishy face look”, and you could not help but smile. Mason laughed more than any kid we ever knew. Very rarely was he ever crying or pouting.

We were just starting to plan Mason’s 2nd birthday party. He was 22-months old when he died from an accident at home. Something deep inside of both parents knew that our little guy was not going to make it, and before the nurses asked, we already knew that we would donate Mason’s organs. That is a very hard decision for a parent of such a young child to make…..but you would have had to of known Mason to know that it was the right choice. He was a giver and sharer in all things in his little life. We wholeheartedly did the right thing, and have no regrets. We as a family are so honored that our son was able to help so many others.

Karlynn was so special! She was a joy and blessing to have as a daughter and was a special sister to her two brothers. She was full of life, energy and fun, had a captivating personality, and had so many great ideas.

While attending Northwestern College in Roseville, MN, Karlynn met the love of her life, Derek, and he was also a Johnson! They graduated from college in May of 1999 and were married in June. Karlynn enjoyed working with students at school and was a youth leader at church for six years. On May 16, 2005, they were blessed with a baby boy, Grant Russell Johnson, our first grandchild! Karlynn was thrilled to be a mommy and loved her baby boy so much.

On October 29, 2005, Karlynn died due to complications during brain surgery to remove a benign mass. Grant was just 5 ½ months old at that time. We are amazed and blessed that during her short 28 years on earth, Karlynn’s life and her love of God had an impact on so many; those lives are now impacting others. Her legacy lives on through her son, Grant, and those who knew and loved her.

We are so grateful that Karlynn made the decision to be an organ donor. Because of her decision, five individuals received the Gift of Life.

Corrine was born July 13, 1957 to Don and Doris Brandt. She was the 2nd of 4 children. She participated in school activities and was a member of the basketball team. She graduated from Henderson High School in 1975.

She was married to Jim Connelly 1979-2008. She has 4 children, Bob , Joe, Allie and Annie and 8 grandchildren- Jonathan, Audree, Grady, Ashlyn, Molly, Kamry, Ryan and Tate. Corrine’s favorite thing to do was spend time with her family. She was a care-free Grandma.

Corrine had and in-home daycare for many years. Her house was the “go-to” house for everyone in the neighborhood. Everyone looked to her as a “Mom”. After closing her daycare in 1995, she became a sub rural mail carrier in Henderson, MN. She also ran the concessions at a local ballpark. Everyone enjoyed visiting with Corrine. She had the greatest sense of humor. Her kids will never forget all of her funny one-liners.

Corrine passed away from a traumatic brain aneurysm at her home. Her first aneurysm occured January 25, 2011 in her home. She suffered memory loss but was recovering better than they expected. Her 2nd aneurysm occured on May 22, 2014. Her final day was May 24, 2014. She was able to donate her kidneys and liver to 2 women in Minnesota and 1 woman from Wisconsin. Her eyes were also donated to the Lion’s Bank.

It wasn’t until 2011 that Corrine made the choice to become a donor. Corrine was always giving to everyone so its comforting to her family to see she saved so many lives.

Corrine is now at peace with her Mother, Doris.

I am going to share a bit about my dad, Gregg. My dad was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He played baseball, basketball, and ran track. At just 17 years old and fresh out of high school, he enlisted in the Air Force. He spent a year in basic training and then headed off to Vietnam. My mom said he had a desk job over there, but would go out with the Army every now and then – which he wasn’t supposed to do. While serving in the Air Force my dad met my mom and they were married just after 6 months. He spent 20 years in the Air Force and retired right before my older sister and I were born. We always joked with my dad that my mom outranked him as my mom was captain and my dad, master sergeant. After his service in the Air Force, he spent more than 20 years working in the circulation department at the newspaper in White Bear Lake so that people in our community could get the local news they needed.

It was January 1st, 2009 when my life suddenly and dramatically changed. While most people think of New Year’s Day as a day of new beginnings and promises of the coming twelve months, I now think of New Year’s Day very differently.

I was home from college for the holidays and was working at a movie theater, a very busy scene on New Year’s Day. My work was interrupted when my manager frantically told me there was an emergency at home. I immediately called my mom and she said just three words I will never forget – “It’s your dad.”

Just a day earlier, my dad had been complaining of some breathing problems. At the time, he pushed it aside and thought it would either get better or he’d deal with it later. I rushed home and was greeted by a scene of paramedics and fire fighters. My father had collapsed at home. The first responders worked tirelessly to save him, but despite their best effort his injury was life-ending. My dad died that day from a blood clot that traveled to his heart.

Later that night, the phone rang. Upon answering the phone, my mom was greeted by Kathy Jolly from LifeSource. She was calling because my dad was eligible to be a tissue donor. My dad was not donor designated on his driver’s license, so LifeSource asked us for authorization. While Kathy doesn’t remember the conversation as it was 6 years ago and she has talked to hundreds of families since then, what my mom remembers about the conversation was how surprised Kathy was that my mom said yes to donation so quickly. My sister and I were also immediately on board with the decision. Donation was consistent with who he was – generous, helpful and kind. Also, about a decade earlier my grandmother was an eye donor when she passed away. Like his mother, my dad was able to donate his eyes, plus bone and skin from his forearms.

A few days later we received some materials in the mail from LifeSource. One of those things was the green Donate Life bracelet. Something about the bracelet struck me that day. I put it on and didn’t take it off for three years. I would look at the bracelet, and it gave me calmness through the chaos. People would ask me about it, and it gave me a sense of comfort. It was a visual reminder that something good came out of something so tragic. Three years later, when I decided to remove it, I felt I was beginning to move on ever so slightly in my grief journey. When I took the bracelet off I put it on top of my dresser and there it remains today.

When I saw a job advertised in 2012 for the Office and Facility Administrator position I didn’t make the connection that LifeSource was the organization that had worked with my family three years earlier. It wasn’t until I was speaking with my mom about the position that she said right away “Yeah, that was the organization that your dad donated through.”

Since joining LifeSource my sense of donation has definitely changed. While I was an advocate for donation before, I would say now that the mission has changed my life. As I see the work that is done here by everyone first hand, my appreciation has grown exponentially.

When I think about my dad I remember his obsession with fantasy league sports and Minnesota teams, his addiction to KFAN radio station, his imposing figure (he was 6′ 4″), and his love of deer hunting and golf. My memories of my dad are reflected in the words we chose for his headstone – “Remembering Love and Laughs.” That couldn’t be a more true statement.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my story.