Donor Families

When Julio did not wake up after being warmed up, my mind told me he was brain dead, but my heart did not want to believe it. After several tests and a repeat CT of his brain, the neurologist determined that there was nothing there to sustain any type of normal life. Knowing Julito as we all did, we knew he would not have wanted to live in a vegetative state: that was not who he was. He loved music, dancing, traveling, and being at the beach.

The Life Alliance team was with my family and me throughout the entire DCD process. We all gain comfort in knowing that Julio saved two lives with the gift of his kidneys. Furthermore, his gift of eyes, bone and tissue improved the lives of over one hundred people. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss my son especially seeing his daughter grow up without him, he would have been a fun dad, but I think about his life and remember the memories he gave us, the lives he touched with his gift of organ and tissue donation and not his tragic death. He always used to say, “Life is too short, so live each day like you are on vacation and never stop dancing,” so please do so in his memory.

- Angela Buenano, Donor Mom