Stories of Hope
Micah
Micah was born in 2002 with cerebral palsy and faced many medical challenges from the start. Despite this, he lived a joyful and full life. “He was a great force; he was integrated into a typical classroom. He spread joy with children that he came in contact with. Everything he did, he just loved life,” Cindy Coker, Micah’s mother, remembers. Micah loved being around people, laughing, music, school, and just being included. Micah and his family spent his life advocating for families who have loved ones with special needs and helping other kids get the care they needed. He showed everyone around him what it means to care for others.
When Micah passed suddenly, Cindy and her family faced unimaginable grief. They chose to pursue organ donation, finding comfort in knowing his generosity could give other families more time with their loved ones. Cindy remembers the support of the donation team, who guided them through the process with care and understanding. “It meant a lifetime of reflection, therapy and comfort that we did the right thing,” Cindy reflected.
Micah’s memory is honored through the annual Micah Memorial 3-Man 3-Gun Match, which raises funds for Donor Alliance. Cindy’s hope is that families are inspired to consider organ donation, knowing the lifesaving and healing difference it can make. “There are hundreds of thousands of people out there that are requiring donation,” Cindy said. “Absolutely 100% check the box, you’ll be saving countless lives by checking a box and getting that heart on your driver license.”
More Stories
Clayton
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 […]
Rita
Rita believed that generosity was a way of life. “I am always blessed to receive because I am always willing to give,” she would often say. When Rita passed away in 2023, her daughter, Elita, found solace in those very words. Knowing her mother had chosen to be an organ donor helped shift her focus […]
Kelsi
Kelsi was 23 when doctors diagnosed her with adult idiopathic scoliosis and told her she’d eventually lose the ability to walk. Surgery was her only chance to live a normal life and a tissue donor was her best chance at a successful surgery. Her pain was already debilitating, but with a curve that was increasing […]