Donor Stories

Donor Stories

The gift of life through organ, eye and tissue donation has a lasting impact on donor families, recipients, recipient families and living donors. Read inspirational stories from families whose loved ones impacted the lives of transplant recipients through the generous gift of donation.

Christopher Hutson Jr

Christopher Hutson Jr

Carthesa Hutson had said many times during her first-born child’s life, “I never knew true love until I stared into his beautiful face.”

In the wake of 19-year-old Christopher Hutson Jr's death in a road rage shooting, Carthesa has been comforted knowing that her son’s senseless death has led to new life for several individuals who received his organs.

Real-life stories of organ and tissue donation (Midwest Transplant Network, Kansas and Missouri)

Reat Underwood

Reat, 14, wanted to follow in his mother’s footsteps and join the donor registry. Today, his ability to improve lives through tissue donation helps his mom, Mindy, feel that his death was not a total loss.

When Reat Underwood went with his mother Mindy to get his driver’s permit, he said, “Mom, you are a donor, right?” After Mindy said yes, Reat turned with a smile to the woman behind the counter at the department of motor vehicles and said, “Then I will be a donor, too.”

Real-life stories of organ and tissue donation (Midwest Transplant Network, Kansas and Missouri)

Jason Keck

After his time with the Air Force and National Guard, Jason’s commitment to serving others led him to nursing school. When he became an organ donor, he was able to fulfill that commitment in the ultimate way.

Jason joined the Air Force after high school and then continued his service as part of the National Guard. He was committed to helping others, which made his decision to go to nursing school an obvious one for him. “He always wanted to help people, and he knew he wanted to be a nurse after his service,” said Jason’s older brother, Scott.

Read about recipients and the impact their donors made, or tell us about your own personal experience with organ donation.