Dan's Story Takes Flight The story begins in the same fashion every time. Dan Gromada Sr. holds a framed photograph of his son, 19-year-old Dan Gromada Jr., and declares, “Today you are going to meet an angel.” He waits as the audience takes in the photo of the smiling teenager with the sparkling blue eyes. To his family, Dan is an angel -- he died on June 25, 2004 at St. Elizabeth’s Health Center in Youngstown, Ohio after a fatal motorcycle crash. But that is only the beginning of the story… Dan Jr. had his motorcycle only 10 days when he rode away from his family’s house on June 23, 2004. His parents, Dan Sr. and Elaine, were concerned about their son’s safety on a motorcycle and were only mildly reassured by Dan Jr.’s promise that “I am not going to do anything stupid.” On that unfortunate day, Dan Jr., impatient with a traffic back-up, rode his motorcycle on the center double line and collided with a farm tractor attempting a left-hand turn. The force of the collision tossed Dan Jr. 20 feet into the air and completely broke the front axle of the tractor. Dan Jr., who was wearing a helmet, landed on the back of his head and suffered a devastating head injury.

For two days he remained in the intensive care unit at St. Elizabeth’s Health Center with his parents and siblings close by. On June 25, Dan Jr. was pronounced brain dead and his parents were approached by LifeBanc with the option of organ and tissue donation. Dan and Elaine were prepared to give consent for donation when they learned that Dan Jr. had already given consent – when he obtained his driver license at age 16, he joined the Ohio Donor Registry. “We were so impressed,” says Dan Sr., “How many 16-year-olds think about helping others if something happens to them?” Dan Jr. was able to save four lives by becoming an organ donor, a 45-year-old-man received his heart; a 43-year-old woman received his pancreas and a kidney; a 50-year-old man received the other kidney; and a nine-year-old boy received his liver. All recipients are alive and doing well, a fact that brings joy to his family. The photograph that Dan Sr. shares when telling his story to those in his community is shared with the world on the Life Takes Flight float in the Tournament of Roses Parade. Dan Jr.’s legacy lives on and the story continues… Currently, nearly 100,000 men, women and children in the United States and thousands in Ohio are waiting for a life-saving transplant. You can become a registered organ donor right now or by saying “yes” when renewing your driver license or state ID at the BMV.