Four Lives Touched by an Angel

The story begins the same way 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, however, Dan Jr. was impatient with a traffic backup, rode his motorcycle on the center double line and collided with a farm tractor attempting a left-hand turn. Dan Jr., who was wearing a helmet, 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. While Dan and Elaine were prepared to give consent for donation, they soon learned that Dan Jr. had already given his consent. When obtaining his driver's license at age 16, Dan Jr. had 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 was shared with the world on the 2008 Donate Life Rose Parade float. Dan Jr.'s legacy lives on and the story continues…

You have the power to save lives by becoming a registered organ and tissue donor right now or by saying "yes" when renewing your driver license or state ID at the BMV.