SAN ANTONIO – April is National Donate Life Month and the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance is working to explain how signing up to be an organ donor can help so many people around the country and, around Texas.
In 2021, 691 lives were saved because of organ donations.
“It was about a little after 9 in the evening there. We were rushing to the hospital to get there,” Alex Menchaca said.
That was the moment Alex found out his son David, was in a motorcycle crash.
“We were also informed that we should prepare for the worst. And we asked, ‘What does that mean?’ It’s like he’s not going to make it,” Menchaca said.
It was at that time that Alex asked the question, “Can David’s organs be donated?”
Menchaca said David was an organ donor. It was on his driver’s license.
“We know this would have been his wishes,” he said.
David’s organs have helped multiple people, including Alex’s brother. David’s uncle received his liver.
“I know based on what my wife and I and my son believe in, we believe in if you can help, if if there’s a way to help someone to live, to live a healthier life, you know, we should. We should make that judgment. And we served his wishes,” Menchaca said.
There is, however, a critical need for more donations. Nationally, more than 100,000 men, women and even children are awaiting a life-saving organ transplant every nine minutes.
“One organ donor can save eight lives and impact 75 others, through tissue and cornea donation,” Clarissa Thompson, with the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance said.
And as for Alex and his family, they miss David very ,much, but know that there are so many people who are better now, thanks to David.
“I know it’s a tragedy. I know that you have to lose someone in order to do this. But what better way to create a legacy? What better way to, you know, just help someone else?” Menchaca said.