Donovan Williams

Dono was an energetic and athletic teenager. He loved his family and had an especially close relationship with his older brother. He had a group of friends that he loved like brothers. And he was engaged in lots of sports, especially his favorite, basketball. But in the summer of 2020, Dono had a tragic ATV accident. He wasn’t wearing his seatbelt, and he received a massive head injury. The medical team worked diligently to save him, but eventually doctors had to tell his parents that Dono couldn’t recover. The Williamses had never discussed organ donation before. Their son was only 14; it hadn’t seemed like a necessary discussion. But they discussed it now and decided to allow Dono to become an organ donor. He saved five lives.

Few people of only 14 years old have had the impact that Donovan has. One of Dono’s kidneys saved a woman in her 50s, the other saved a man in his 40s. His pancreas saved a woman in her 30s and his heart, a man in his 20s. And today, a baby boy is a healthy preschooler thanks to Dono’s liver. While the Williams family hasn’t been able to connect with all of the recipients, they have heard from one of the kidney recipients. She had been bound to a dialysis machine for years but has now found freedom because she received Dono’s kidney. And the boy who received Dono’s liver was only 8-months old. His family shared in a letter with the Williams family that their son had been born with a disease that required a liver transplant, which he got because of Dono’s liver and the Williams’ decision to give.

Donovan’s influence and legacy extend beyond organ donation. In his honor, Dono’s family has started a foundation which helps kids who need help with costs related to sports. Dono’s mother, Rebecca, also speaks to students in Driver’s Education classes, telling them her and Dono’s story and sharing with them about the importance of organ donation and wearing seatbelts.

The Williams family encourages people to consider organ donation. Rebecca admits that losing her youngest child at only 14 was the worst experience of her life, but she also shares, “There is something comforting knowing he saved other people.” She urges readers: “Tell the people in your life that you love them. Hug your kids extra, wear your seatbelt, and be an organ donor. It saves lives.”