Erica Rangel-Báez's nine-year-old son Frankie Hernandez died from a brain aneurysm after watching a baseball game. He saved the lives of five children as an organ donor. "Knowing that these children have been able to be hugged, and kissed by their families for even just one more day has been something that is gratifying," says Erica. "What I wouldn’t do to have one more month, day, or even a minute with my baby boy."

Erica and Frankie's Story

Frankie Hernandez was Erica Rangel-Báez's first child. Although he was born prematurely at 36 weeks in 1995, he could speak before he walked and catch a ball before he turned two.

In kindergarten, Frankie continued to demonstrate that he was gifted, and he went on to receive many honors over the next few years. He made friends easily; Frankie was a “social butterfly”, as Erica had been told many times in parent-teacher conferences.

One Sunday in early March 2005, nine-year-old Frankie went to the park with his family to watch a baseball game. They returned home, and Frankie seemed normal, even playing catch with his dad except for one seemingly small problem.

“He complained of a headache, which was unlike him to complain,” recalls Erica. “I told him to lie down but the pain was getting worse. When I suggested going to the hospital, Frankie said, ‘Yeah let’s go.’ That was unlike him, too. I began to worry.”

As soon as they got onto the freeway, he stopped breathing. Erica performed CPR, while his dad called 911. The paramedics immediately transported him to the nearest hospital, where he was found to be bleeding internally and required transfer to a second hospital for surgery. He survived but was brain dead.

“Day in, day out, we were there by his side, hoping for a miracle – praying, as there was nothing more to do, but pray,” Erica says.

Three days later, eight neurosurgeons confirmed there was nothing more they could do. While sitting at Frankie’s bedside hoping for a miracle, Erica and her husband were approached by Frankie’s nurse and a specialist from the local organ donor network to ask if they would consider giving the gift of life.

“At that moment, all I could do was wish this was not happening to me, hoping it was all a nightmare,” Erica remembers. “Reality was that we were being asked and needed to make a decision that could change peoples’ lives. I didn’t ask anyone but Frankie. I asked him, ‘What would you do, what do I do?’ My response was an immediate ‘yes.’”

On March 11, while at the cemetery planning his services, Erica was informed that Frankie had saved the lives of five children. “With mixed emotions I was happy for the children and their families,” she confirms.

Of the five children who lived because of Frankie’s gifts, Erica has met Patty, who received Frankie’s bowel. “She’s an extraordinary little girl who is Frankie’s age, and coincidently attended the same school as he did,” says Erica.

Patty and her family wrote to Erica shortly after Patty’s recovery. In the letter Patricia, Patty’s mother, thanked Erica for giving Patty a chance to live a new and better life. Patty was now able to eat for the first time in nine years and was learning simple things like how to chew and swallow.

As Eric read the letter, she “knew the decision we had made was the biggest one we will ever have to make. Patty and her family have welcomed my family and me as their own. They have been a great help in our journey.

“Knowing that these children have been able to be hugged and kissed by their families for even just one more day has been very gratifying," says Erica. "What I wouldn’t do to have one more month, day, or even a minute with my baby boy."