“My Son Died A Hero.” 4-Yr-Old Saves Three Children’s Lives Through Organ Donation.

This story was submitted to InspireMore by Madison Loreli about her son, Waylon.

Although 4-year-old Waylon is no longer with us, he’s still making a difference through organ donation. In fact, there are three kids out there who can say they owe their lives to the small boy! While Waylon’s family grieves his loss, they couldn’t be prouder of the impact he’s made. Now, they’re encouraging others to follow his example and become registered donors!

Waylon Sam Pietz passed away on August 14, 2023, just days after his fourth birthday. According to News.com.au, his mother came home from work one day to find him under a fallen dresser. He was unconscious and not breathing. Doctors at London Hospital in Ontario, Canada, did everything they could, but the small child’s brain did not recover from the lack of oxygen.

While on life support, Waylon’s mom, Madison, was asked if the family would consider signing the child up for organ donation. It became clear that her son wasn’t going to make it out of the hospital. So, she decided the best way to honor his memory would be to give other children the gift of life.

A nine-year-old girl is now thriving with the help of Waylon’s small intestine, while a boy of almost two received his liver. Perhaps the most beautifully symbolic transplant was that of the little hero’s heart, which now beats inside a baby less than one year old.

“We know his soul will live on through the three children he saved by donating his organs,” Madison wrote on TikTok.

After seeing the difference her child’s organ donation made, Waylon’s mom is hoping to get more people to consider this life-saving gift.

“I never thought I could see any light after what I experienced as a mother at 24 losing my son,” Madison told InspireMore. “I never even thought of organ donation. My son died a hero saving 3 children. A nine-year-old girl with his small bowel, his liver and his heart is still beating in a baby boy under one.”

She continued, “This whole experience has made me very involved in organ donation and awareness. I would like to honour Waylon and inspire other people to give the gift of life.”

Madison is aiming to get 1,000 people to register for organ donation here. As anyone who has received a successful transplant can tell you, this decision can make an incredible difference.

You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.