Brody was a son, a brother, and a sweet kid. I became his father when he was two years old. Over time, I was accepted into his heart, but he would always be a mommy’s boy. I believe Army deployments caused some pain on Brody, and he became more introverted as he became older. A naturally gifted athlete, he turned to gaming or hanging out with his extremely small social circle. As he encountered adolescence, like a typical teen, he would act cool, but we all knew deep down who he was. Brody was kind and he was very unselfish. He cared deeply for his family and animals. He was witty and had a great sense of humor. He definitely knew how to make someone smile. He would’ve made a better father than me and he would’ve been a great man. Sadly, he was taken from us last April at the age of 16. While we’ve been grieving for a year now, I’m still amazed that he once again showed his caring heart by becoming an organ donor. Mid-America Transplant has been great throughout the whole process. This whole experience has opened my eyes to just how important it is to donate life. To help with the grieving, I became involved in the hobby of radio control racing. Mid-America Transplant has even provided me with materials and products to pass out at events. At a national event in Tulsa, I believe over 250 Donate Life bracelets were handed out. I’ll continue to miss my son, but in the meantime, I’ll do my best to promote this great cause! -John Baxter
