Beth and Larry Sparks will always remember their son Clayton as kindhearted, full of life, and the kind of person who made everyone feel like they belonged.

In 2019, Clayton died at just 24 years old. Before his death, he made the decision to be an organ donor. That decision now lives on in multiple lives.

Jay carries Clayton’s heart. He met Beth and Larry for the first time during the 2026 Transplant Games. Jay shared that he cannot find the words to describe the gratitude he feels for his donor, or what it meant to sit with the family who gave him a second chance at life. Reid received a liver transplant from Clayton, a gift that gave him new life. He and his wife Abby have stayed closely connected to the Sparks family ever since, grounded in deep gratitude for the young man who made their future possible. Abby has also shared his story through her children’s book, “Clayton Sparks Leaves His Mark,” helping carry his legacy forward in a way the next generation can understand.

What began with loss has become connection. Jay, Reid, Abby, and the Sparks family continue to come together in moments that honor Clayton and the life he made possible for others.