Her son, Landon, had a peaceful nature, a great sense of humor and a contagious smile. He always greeted others with a firm handshake or a heartfelt hug. Combined with his positive, “don’t sweat the small stuff” approach to life, it was difficult to be in a bad mood when Landon was around. A loving son, brother and friend, Landon played an integral part in maintaining his family’s close-knit relationship.
It was an early Sunday morning in October when Landon’s mom, Lynette, received a devastating phone call. Landon, 24, had been jogging with his older brother when he suddenly collapsed and never regained consciousness. In his passing, Landon was able to make a difference in the lives of many people as a tissue and cornea donor.
Thinking of the kindness Landon always showed others has taught Lynette about the importance of forging and maintaining family ties, friendships and Christian love. He has also taught her about the importance — and impact — of registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor. Lynette has become an active donation advocate. She shares Landon’s story and tells how, in the midst of overwhelming loss, she found comfort in knowing that Landon’s last act was to help others. Lynette supports other donor families as they cope with their grief, and she educates her local community about the importance of donation and the need for registered donors.
As Lynette puts it when speaking to other donor families, “We can all boast that our loved ones possessed a spirit, personality, compassion and zeal for life that were too large to be contained in one body.”