Elias was born on October 16, 2009 and he was called home on Februrary 25, 2011. He was my best friend. Yes, he was only 16 months old but Elias had and will always have my heart. He loved to dance. All you had to say was “go…go…go” and he would start bouncing up and down. No matter what challenges came my way, Elias always made me feel better. He cried with me and laughed with me.

Unfortunately, on February 24, 2011, a fire at his daycare started and God saved him. He looked like an angel lying in that hospital bed. He even had a little smirk on his face that made me realize he was at peace. He was safe from all danger and harm.

After the doctors had exhausted every possibility of saving my son’s life, they talked to us about organ donation since he was a healthy baby boy. We agreed to donate and in doing so, Elias Xavier Castillo saved 3 lives. A three-month old little boy with his heart, a two-year old little boy with his liver and a 40-year old woman with both of his kidneys.

He’s a hero in my eyes and forever will be! He still remains my motivation and he still is the reason I wake up in the morning.