Kade Howard’s younger brother Dalton was killed in June 2004 when, while helping his dad and brother move hay, he was struck by a car while crossing the road on a four-wheeler. When his parents were asked about donating 11-year-old Dalton’s tissues, his mother remembered a conversation they had had after reading about a donor family in the newspaper. Upon first learning about the process, Dalton had asked his mother, “Why wouldn’t you donate?” His compassion for others lives on.

The Howard Family's Story

The Howard family’s cattle ranch is a charming reminder that life exists, and, in fact, flourishes beyond the city lights. They could not have suspected that one tragic moment in the summer of 2004 would devastate their country way of life.

Steve and Kelly Howard lived on the ranch that Steve’s family had owned for generations. Before they knew it, there were two energetic little boys running through their house: Kade and his younger brother by four years, Dalton. There were also two older sisters, Stevie and Jessie, and an older brother, Waco, all from Steve’s first marriage.

Dalton, or “Dalty” as the family called him, didn’t always fit the mold of a pre-teen raised on a ranch. He still had the Oklahoma twang, but Dalton sometimes opted for Hawaiian shirts and took piano lessons in his spare time.

In many ways, Dalton was a typical Midwestern youth. He enjoyed and played football for two years and hoped to someday play for the local high school team, the Ringling Blue Devils. He loved Oklahoma State University. Dalton would eat gravy on anything and looked forward to every Saturday evening (“family night”, according to Dalton) so he could catch episodes of Saturday Night Live. He dreamed of one day traveling to Australia to journey in the outback like Steve Erwin in the Crocodile Hunter.

Dalton was as diverse as Oklahoma weather. He loved reading books from the Harry Potter series and had calves, which he showed in 4-H Club. Dalton also had two parakeets that he kept in a cage next to his bed. Described as a deep thinker, Dalton made straight A’s and was the salutatorian of his fifth grade class.

Dalton had a sweet, innate desire to please. Steve coached Dalton’s football team for two years, and during water breaks, Dalton was sure to take a cup of water to his Dad first before he even enjoyed a swig for himself. “He was so compassionate, always thinking of someone else,” recalls Kelly. “He would look out for other kids at school, too. If someone was being bullied, Dalton was right there to help.”

At a young age, Dalton had already developed a deep faith. He loyally wore his St. Christopher medal, which he received as a gift from his parents on his first communion in April, 2000.

“It really bothered Dalty if we missed church,” Kelly says. “It was something that was incredibly important to him.”

On the afternoon of Thursday, June 17, 2004 Dalton was struck by a car while trying to cross the highway. Kade and Kelly rushed to the scene of the accident, just over a mile from the Howard’s home. His body lay motionless on the road, his eyes were closed and he appeared as if he was sleeping.

At the hospital, Steve and Kelly were asked about donating Dalton’s tissues. The couple asked to discuss the option for a while. They thought about what Dalton would have wanted. “I remembered that Dalton and I had once looked at a testimonial of a donor family in the newspaper,” recalls Kelly. “Seeing the opportunity to teach a lesson, I explained donation and how it could help other people. Dalton had simply replied, “Why wouldn’t you donate?” It was this memory that brought some peace to Kelly and Steve, and they okayed Dalton’s donation.

“Dalton taught us more about life and the meaning of life than we could have ever taught him,” Kelly continued. “Dalty did not like strife, and he wanted to relieve others from their strife. He was always helping others even when he went to heaven. We are so proud to be his family.”