Vietnam Veteran Among 60 Lives Saved By Organ Donor

A friend said I should offer a warning before going to the link to watch the video on this. Make sure you have tissues first.

Family Mourns Organ Donor Son, But ‘Hears’ Heartbeat In Vietnam Vet He Saved
Inquisitr
November 26, 2014

Matt Heisler, a 21-year-old organ donor attending the University of North Dakota, probably wasn’t aware that he would be called to service at such a young age, but it was never a decision he took lightly, according to his dad.

“He made the decision that if life ever slipped away from him, he would give life to someone else,” said Jared Heisler.

And since Matt’s untimely death in a house fire in March, he’s been on a life-saving spree. KARE 11 reports that Matt has helped more than 60 people, including a 46-year-old woman, who received one of Matt’s kidneys. The other went to a 56-year-old woman. His liver saved the life of a 61-year-old man.

But perhaps most touching of all because the Heislers could actually hear it; his heart went to a Vietnam veteran diagnosed with the potentially deadly condition of amyloidosis.

Tom Meeks was told that without a heart transplant, he would not be able to survive. He was passed over three times due to his age, but the Mayo Clinic of Rochester, Minnesota, was finally able to conduct the life-saving operation thanks to Matt’s decision to become an organ donor at 16.

The Heislers — his parents and younger sister, Casey — finally got to meet Meeks this month, eight months after they said goodbye to their loved one. Casey broke down when she heard her brother’s heartbeat working inside Meeks’ chest.
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Marine organ donor killed in Afghanistan after saving life in Orlando

Orlando cancer survivor meets Marine donor's parents
Orlando 6 News
Published On: Aug 09 2014

Before an Orlando woman could say thank you to the U.S. Marine who was a perfect match for a bone marrow transplant, he was killed while serving in Afghanistan this year. His parents surprised the cancer survivor at the hospital Saturday.

Marine organ donor killed in Afghanistan after saving life

Fallen Police Officer Last Act of Love, Heart to Vietnam Veteran

GIFT OF LIFE: HEART OF SLAIN NJ POLICE OFFICER DONATED TO VIETNAM VETERAN
ABC News
By Dr. Sapna Parikh
Tuesday, July 22, 2014

NEW PROVIDENCE (WABC) -- From one hero to an another, an officer killed in the line of duty gave the most important gift possible after his death: the gift of life.

By allowing his organs to be donated after his death, Jersey City Police Officer Marc Anthony DiNardo gave a Vietnam Veteran a second chance at life.

Officer DiNardo died from wounds suffered in a shootout in 2009. But his family say his legacy lives on and hopes his organ donation will urge other to do the same.

Exactly five years ago, DiNardo lost his life in the line of duty, but the 37-year old husband and father's commitment to saving other lives never ended.

"He's a hero in life and in death," said the officer's widow, Mary DiNardo.

As an organ donor, officer DiNardo's heart went to another hero, Captain Don Zolkiwsky, a Purple Heart recipient and veteran of the Vietnam War.

"It's bittersweet. Sweet in that, yes it happened, bitter in that someone had to die for me to live," said Capt. Zolkiwsky.
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Fort Bragg MP Donates Stem Cells for Child with Leukemia

Soldier Donates Stem Cells for Child with Leukemia
Military.com
by Sgt. Barry St. Clair
Dec 18, 2013

FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- Volunteering to become a Soldier in the U.S. Army is a commitment requiring dedication, sacrifice and courage. Soldiers often lead a life of voluntary service to the community in other ways than honoring their countrymen through duty.

Spc. Amanda N. Reynolds of Weleetka, Okla., serves as an investigator in the 42nd Military Police Detachment, 16th MP Brigade, out of Fort Bragg, N.C. In addition to her commitment as a Soldier, Reynolds is a very dedicated and giving person. She is actively involved in the C. W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program, a life-sustaining program open to all healthy people between the ages of 18 and 60.

Reynolds registered as a donor in Oklahoma and the DoD donor program. She had never really considered the option until one near-death experience made her realize the importance and fragile nature of life.

Reynolds has been a military policewoman in the U.S. Army for seven years, deploying to Baghdad, Iraq, twice for her country. Reynolds was part of the elite Military Police Soldiers who are also airborne paratroopers.

One day in October 2011, was her last scheduled jump on jump status. Soldiers on jump status receive additional pay for the hazardous task of parachuting. In turn, they are required to complete a variety of jumps regularly. She was scheduled for a night jump, and fatefully it turned out to be her last jump unexpectedly.
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Marine gives brother kidney to save his life

North Texas Marine Donates Kidney To Save His Brother’s Life
CBS News
January 8, 2013

Isidro, now 20 and a U-S Marine, feels like he’s helping to save his older brother this time by giving him one of his kidneys.

ARLINGTON (CBS 11 NEWS) - Two brothers, who’ve been separated by miles, will forever be linked now by a kidney.

One was in need and the other, even though he’s in the military, gave.

As brothers, Isidro and Reynaldo Guerrero are close. They’re even closer now.

“We’re very close, even though this happened. It’s catastrophic. But, I’m truly blessed,” Reynaldo said.
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Young Iraq War veteran to be remembered for lives he saved after his death

Young Iraq War veteran to be remembered for lives he saved after his death
Las Vegas Sun
By William D'Urso
Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012

For more than two years Gabriel Barajas fought in Iraq, participating in critical missions like the capture of Saddam Hussein.

Barajas had come through the dangers of armed conflict to see his family again, but in a cruel twist of fate, was struck and killed by a car in 2004 when he stopped on a California highway to change a flat tire.

Dead at 21, he’d no longer be able to watch wrestling with his brother, Francisco; he’d no longer smile and he’d tell no more jokes. But the life that once made him vibrant was given to others in greater need. A man who had always helped people did so one last time, not with his actions or words, but with his eyes, kidneys, liver and heart.

Barajas’ organ donor status helped heal a 3-year-old boy who was struggling with complications from his dialysis treatments. He was one of the lucky ones.
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Iraq veteran giving part of her away to Vietnam Vet

Pa. soldier makes rare, incredible donation to Vietnam veteran
Posted: Nov 12, 2012
By Megan Healey
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)

A Pennsylvania National Guard soldier is sharing her incredible story of giving this Veterans Day. She says her journey began when she returned from her first deployment to Iraq.

"It seemed to be Vietnam veterans really welcomed us home with open arms," she said. "I had a couple of them tell me they're doing this because when they came home, they weren't welcomed home in the same way and they wanted to make sure that never happens to another soldier again. That really touched me. That really meant something to me. It wasn't just one man that did this."

We're not identifying the 36-year-old by name because she doesn't want thanks or accolades for what she's giving: a massive portion of liver to a dying Vietnam veteran three states away.
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Marine saves sister's life with kidney donation

Marine saves sister's life with kidney donation
By Cori Smelker
October 16, 2012

The Marines: The Few, The Proud ... The Giving?

One Marine has proven the true worth of his calling — not on the traditional battlefield, but one much closer to home. Nineteen-year-old Tyler Page, a Judson High School graduate, donated one of his kidneys to his older sister, Nicole, on Oct. 11.

Nicole has had her share of challenges. When she was 6 weeks old she underwent the first of two surgeries to correct a congenital heart defect, the second performed when she was 18 months old.

After that, everything seemed to be smooth sailing for the 27-year old photographer, who joined her father, Rick, in his professional photography business, Front Page Photography.
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140 European lives have been saved because troops donated organs

Troops’ donated organs save European recipients
By Gregg Zoroya
USA TODAY
Posted : Thursday May 3, 2012

After Kelly Hugo flew through a snowstorm to reach the bedside of her mortally wounded son at a U.S. Army hospital in Germany, where he had just been brought from Afghanistan, she didn’t hesitate when asked about organ donation.

“I said, ‘Oh, yes,’” the junior high school counselor recalls, memories still fresh of that December in 2010 when she last saw her son, Marine Cpl. Sean Osterman, 21, of Princeton, Minn., “because something good has to come out of something bad.”

Since 2006, about 140 European lives have been saved because organs — hearts, lungs, livers, kidneys and pancreases — were harvested from 36 U.S. service members determined to be brain dead from wounds suffered in Iraq or Afghanistan, according to statistics from the German foundation that oversees organ removal and implantation.

All casualties from combat funnel through the Army’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for care before being flown to the U.S.
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Corporal Adam M. Byler's heart tugging letter of thanks to all who cared

To whom it may concern,

I want to personally thank you for the extremely generous donation to the Adalynn Byler Memorial Fund. The fund was actually started by David Haynes and fellow Marines here at my unit. All the donations were put to use in helping out in the funeral services, getting my family through times of no income and other financial burdens. I would have sent out more personalized thank you letters, but the way the Navy Federal Credit Union was taking in donations, there was only letters with no return addresses. The support I received from fellow Marines, sailors, soldiers and civilians, past or present, friends and family has been unimaginable, and the only reason I am doing as good as I am today.

When we were at the hospital after the incident, the nurses in the ICU could not believe how many people showed up to see my daughter Adalynn. I would say somewhere between 200 and 300 range. We even had a large group "camped out" in the waiting area and took turns making runs for energy drinks and coffee. I always knew that the brotherhood was strong,,,but nothing to the degree that I have seen these past months. I never imagined when I was first told about the fund, that people I never met would have even heard about the fund. From myself, my wife and son thank you again for the donation.

As an update for me and my family.
I am currently on Active Orders at the 6MTBN CO A 4MLG, Orlando FL and working with the Active Duty Marines. Trying to do my part and help with the training on drill weekends, funerals for veterans and anywhere else I am needed. For the most part they are keeping me as busy as possible, and it has been a great way for myself to get my mind off of the situation. Out unit has another deployment coming up late this year, so I am trying to bring the knowledge I have from the previous deployment and either deploy with them or just provide the knowledge so they can continue with the mission.

I also have received a lot of help from the Veterans Affairs as far as getting counseling sessions. My wife is currently trying to get back into school for the fall and change her major to social work at University of Central Florida, she feels that with our unfortunate situation she can try and help others out and that social work would be the best route and my son is going to be starting Pre K next year. he is a normal three year old and is full of energy and keeps us busy. He was too young to understand exactly was going on. The one thing that everyone was afraid of was that this experience would put a strain on our family, but somehow it has made us stronger as a family and has made us live life to the fullest. Nothing can explain how eternally grateful we are to everyone who has helped out in our time of need.
Semper Fi

Corporal Adam M. Byler USMC

also on this
Dec 17, 2011
Adalynn Byler was pronounced on Monday evening and was on support in order to allow organ transplant teams to be set up. Her family was very generous in allowing other families to have their prayers/wishes/dreams answered. There are three lives whose futures changed on Tuesday by the forward and outward thinking of the Byler family.

Marine ready to donate bone marrow wins $2.9 million on slot machine

Marine Credits Karma for $2.9 Million Jackpot

LAS VEGAS February 26, 2012
Marine Cpl. Alexander Degenhardt is crediting karma for landing a $2.9 million progressive slot jackpot in Las Vegas.

Degenhardt was accepted as a bone marrow donor to an anonymous patient only a couple of days before hitting the jackpot Sunday at the Bellagio, the Las Vegas Sun reported (http://bit.ly/ABQ02J).

"They asked me if I was sure I wanted to go through with it because it's kind of painful, but what's a little pain if it will save someone's life?" Degenhardt said. "I look at this jackpot as kind of good karma for that."

Degenhardt, 26, said he plans to continue his career with the Marines and go through with the bone marrow donation, which is expected to occur in the next six months after extensive testing.
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Marine Organ Donor Family and Recipient Aim To Meet

Marine Organ Donor Family and Recipient Aim To Meet
By RESHMA KIRPALANI
August 15, 2011

Sgt. Jacob Chadwick, 23, left, received a lifesaving kidney from Lt. Patrick Wayland, 24, right, who died after going into cardiac arrest on Aug. 1, 2011. (ABC News)

On Aug. 7, Sgt. Jacob Chadwick, 23, of San Marcos, Calif., underwent a four-and-a-half hour kidney transplant at UC San Diego Medical Center that saved his life. His kidney donor was a fellow marine, 24-year-old Lt. Patrick Wayland from Midland, Texas, who went into cardiac arrest on Aug. 1 at Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida.

Now, both the Wayland and the Chadwick families have told ABCNews.com that they would like to meet, when the Waylands have moved pass the aftershocks of grief and Chadwick has healed from his surgery.

"What they did was pretty great," Chadwick said. "A piece of their son is keeping me alive. Eventually, I think they should [get to know the person] who their son's kidney went to."
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San Marcos Marine receives gift of life from fallen Marine

MILITARY: San Marcos Marine receives gift of life from late comrade
By BRANDI PEREZ
Posted: Thursday, August 11, 2011
Marines Corps bonds run strong and deep, even when troops and their families don't know one another.

Just ask Sgt. Jacob Chadwick of San Marcos, who survived a 2009 combat tour in Iraq only to suffer organ failure.

Chadwick has a new lease on life thanks to a kidney donation from a fellow Marine who died last week.

The kidney, transplanted Sunday, came from 2nd Lt. Patrick Wayland, a man Chadwick had never met but whose family wanted his organs donated to service members in need.

Wayland suffered heart failure Aug. 1 during survival training at Florida's Pensacola Naval Air Station. He died Aug. 6. Wayland's family asked his doctors to find military recipients for their son's organs.

Chadwick, a former Camp Pendleton infantryman, said he is forever grateful. Matching a donor to a kidney patient can take years.


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Marine 2nd LT Patrick Wayland

Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Patrick Wayland died after training, donated organs

UPDATE to this story

San Marcos Marine receives gift of life


In death, Marine trainee gives life to others

Written by
Travis Griggs

Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Patrick Wayland suffered a cardiac arrest during training Aug. 1 at Pensacola Naval Air Station. / Special to the News Journal

Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Patrick Wayland gave his country everything he had to give.

His service. His life. And, in the end, his organs.

Wayland, 24, of Midland, Texas, died at Sacred Heart Hospital over the weekend, after going into cardiac arrest during water survival training Aug. 1 at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

He was pronounced brain dead Friday and removed from life support about 7:30 p.m. Saturday after doctors determined which organs could be donated.

"As a Marine, Patrick swore to serve and give his life to duty, and by donating his organs, he is able to fulfill his obligation to others," Wayland's father, David Wayland, posted in an online journal on Friday.

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In death Marine trainee gives life to others

Army Ranger saves woman's life after his death

Woman receives heart from fallen Ranger

The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Aug 4, 2009 15:51:22 EDT

ROSEMOUNT, Minn. — Army Cpl. Benjamin Kopp, a Ranger, died last month after being wounded in Afghanistan, but a part of the Minnesota soldier lives on.

His family agreed to donate his organs, and now a 57-year-old Chicago woman feels privileged to have received the Rosemount soldier’s heart.
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/08/ap080409_armyorgandonor/

Cpl. Benjamin Kopp passed away at Walter Reed

Funeral services Aug. 1 for Cpl. Benjamin Kopp, Rosemount
Thursday, 30 July 2009
The funeral details for Cpl. Benjamin S. Kopp, 21, of Rosemount have been announced. Cpl. Benjamin Stephen Kopp of Rosemount died July 18, 2009, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., from wounds suffered on July 10 in Afghanistan.

Funeral services Aug. 1 for Cpl. Benjamin Kopp