Tae Park's close-knit family, who had survived many hardships immigrating from Korea, was shattered in 2000 when his 22-year-old son John died in an automobile accident. In accord with John's generous nature, the family chose to donate his organs. John's brother Jae writes, "Although we would grieve for the rest of our lives, the fact that John was able to save someone else’s life was truly gratifying."

The Park Family's Story

October 8, 2000 was a tragic and life changing day for our family as we faced the hardest time in our lives, mourning the sudden loss of our son and brother John Park. At the time of his death, John was only 22 years old. It was a beautiful Sunday morning as my brother was getting ready to go to work. Strangely, my mother Judy felt the urge to make him a nice homemade breakfast before leaving for work. I was out staying at a friend’s house. As I woke up, I felt the need to call my family and check to see if everything was okay. My father picked up the phone as told me that the local body-shop owner had seen John’s vehicle in a traffic accident. John would frequent the body-shop as he loved working on his car. I immediately rushed back home to find out he was hospitalized at Harbor UCLA Medical Center. I met my family in the waiting area and soon realized how serious his condition was.

John was on his way to work, traveling the same route that he had taken for the last year. As he was driving uphill, he lost control of his vehicle and crossed over the center divider and collided head on with another car. Apparently he was not belted in and suffered from brain and spinal cord injuries. We received the news from the doctors and stood there in the lobby in shock. People often ask me “How did you deal with the news?” To this day, I don’t know how we managed to get through that awful experience.

As the days went by, about a hundred of John’s close friends gathered at the hospital and waited for a miracle. Every day we prayed and tried to stay positive and strong. It seemed that as each day went by, the news on his condition got progressively worse. It was already made known to us by the doctors and staff that he was brain dead and had not survived his injuries. I can recall our family spending countless hours at his bedside, praying and talking to him. The hospital chapel seemed to be the only place where we were able to find some kind of peace. We prayed endlessly and hoped for a miraculous outcome. I thought to myself, “How can God do this to our family?” We were such a small, close knit family and had survived so many hardships in coming to this country. We had finally made it! Now this?

By the fifth day, my mother noticed that signs of John’s body “giving up” were becoming evident. By this time most of our family from Korea had flown in to be with him in his final moments. We were approached by a wonderful lady, Laura Schneider, regarding organ donation. Given John’s character and personality, he would have been upset if we hadn’t made the decision to donate his organs to someone else in need. After discussing it as a family, there was nothing else we would have done. Shortly after his funeral services, we learned that the individuals who received his organs were alive and well. What an awesome feeling! Although we would grieve for the rest of our lives, the fact that John was able to save someone else’s life was truly gratifying.

As I sit and write this, I am reminded of the death. Five years later, almost to the day, I can only think of one thing that could have carried us out of such a dark valley: God. Our family’s strong rooted faith in God and the knowledge that John was able to save someone else are the only factors that have allowed us to stay sane during the last few years. Over the past few years, we have been fortunate enough to stay involved with OneLegacy in educating the community on the importance of donation through his story.

John, you are greatly missed, and we love you for what you have given us and how you have helped others in a way that many could not. You are a true hero. We love you, John, and thank you… Until we meet again.

Mom, Dad and Jae