told very few people donate bones, skin and tissue but due to his injuries, that was what we could give, along with his heart valves and corneas. We’ll never know who or how many benefited from his donation but we do know his sacrifice was extremely important. Daniel was the firstborn of four sons, he thrived and excelled at school and life, no matter how many times we were transferred around the state of Texas. Daniel graduated Magna cum laude with a degree in Philosophy in May of 2007 from Texas State University. Five weeks later he was killed when two teenagers lost control of their vehicles while street racing and plowed head on into our truck. His younger brother survived the collision, no one else was injured. Daniel was taken by Lifeflight to Hermann Hospital in the Houston Medical Center but his injuries were too severe to overcome, he had taken the full impact of the collision. When we received the call about organ donation there was no question whether or not to do so, Daniel donated blood often, he spent his life helping others and we knew what he would want. I was

Daniel was a voracious reader, he loved slack lining, rock climbing and spending time outdoors. His life was centered on Christ, he went on mission trips to the Dominican Republic to work in an orphanage, and to New Orleans during recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina. He kept a four year scholarship at Texas State and volunteered continually, beyond all requirements. Daniel was chosen by his scholarship program to travel to Romania with Habitat for Humanity during his senior year, after his death a playground there was named in his honor. He was a member of Campus Crusade for Christ and was a student leader his senior year, he was also President of the Mitte Scholars. Daniel was accepted into the Mission Year and was slated to begin a nonpaying position in September, 2007. They work with the poorest of the poor in America’s inner cities, he was absolutely thrilled about it and planned to spend his life as a missionary. He loved and adored his family and friends and set a wonderful example for how we should all strive to live our lives. Due to his sacrifice, the street racing laws are now included in the Texas Driver’s Handbook and driving curriculum. He was taken from us far too soon but he would be pleased that he was able to help others through organ donation.

Daniel’s favorite Bible verse is inscribed on his headstone:
So you too then, when you have done all these things, say, “We are unworthy slaves, we have done only that which we ought to have done.”
–Luke 17:10