Nick was 15 years old when he passed unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm in 2020. Nick decided to be an organ donor when he obtained a state ID card for a class trip. Nick made a well-researched decision, as many others have done. So, when the unthinkable happened, we, as his family, honored his decision.
Nick had just completed his first year of high school. He was a geography expert, who loved politics, history, art, the French language, and being the goalkeeper for his high school and club soccer teams. Nick loved life, our community, and wanted to be the Mayor of Cincinnati one day. For a high school art project, Nick created a bucket list of ten items. It consisted of some fun things, like being in a movie, visiting all fifty states, seeing a World Cup game, learning how Sunny D is made, but he was only able to complete one of the items on the list, and it was number seven – to save a life. And he did it five times when he saved five lives with seven organs.
You can designate your decision to become an organ and tissue donor if you are under eighteen, provided that a legally responsible adult witnesses your signature on your driver’s license or state ID card. It’s important that we take the time to explain our wishes to avoid confusion later and that we honor the wishes of our loved ones, as we would want them to honor our wishes. We should all formally designate our intent to be organ, eye and tissue donors, but also tell our families and friends.
There is no age limit on who can donate. You are never too old or too young to be an organ donor. The concept of giving a part of yourself to someone to make them healthy is an amazing opportunity.
– Aimee Cordrey
