18-year-old Cody Souders of Easton, Pennsylvania, accidentally overdosed on prescription pills in October 2013. He was declared brain dead after he spent five days on life support system. Amy Souders had just lost her teenage son but she wanted him to live in other people even after he was gone so the family decided to honor Cody’s wish of becoming an organ donor.
Cody’s heart, liver and kidneys provided life saving transplants while his corneas restored sight and his skin helped burns victims. Dozens of other tissues and body parts including bones, valves, veins and tendons assisted patients in need. In total, the teenager helped save the lives of 50 people.
“If there’s a person that gets even another day with their child or their dad because of Cody’s organs, it was well worth it to us, because we would do anything to get another day with him,” Amy, told CBS News.
“It’s an amazing thing and the best thing is it works. People’s lives are saved,” said Howard Nathan, CEO of the Gift of Life, the organization which helped coordinate the multiple transplants.
Every year since Cody’s death, the Souders take part in the Annual Organ Donor Dash, a 3K run/walk to raise awareness and money for organ donation. This year the family met Tom Burke who received Cody’s liver.
In America, federal health officials claim that 21 people die every day waiting for a transplant. There are currently more than 123,000 people in need of an organ transplant in the US alone.
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