Seven-year-old Christopher Walters loved school, Cub Scouts, camping, sports, and reading his Bible. But most of all, he liked helping others, just like his dad Rob, who was a firefighter and donation advocate. After drowning in a friend's pool, Christopher donated his corneas and heart valves. Rob said it because of how his son lived his life. "He didn't know what it was to be focused on himself. He worried about what everyone else was doing and how he could help them," Rob asserted. He noted that "our hope is that those who received a donation from Christopher will continue to grow and do good for others."

Christopher's Story

Christopher Marshall Walters was an active seven-year-old who enjoyed school, Cub Scouts, camping, hunting, swimming, hiking, baseball, soccer, and reading his Bible. But most of all, he liked helping others.

So did his father Rob. In November 2010, at a nationwide symposium for donation experts, Rob presented on his experience with donation as both a firefighter and a National Guardsman deployed to Afghanistan as a flight medic. His personal efforts on behalf of donation helped change military policy and allowed for soldiers killed in Afghanistan to become donors. Rob also helped develop a first responders training video on donation which is now utilized across the U.S. by paramedics and EMTs.

Months later, on June 17, 2011, Christopher drowned in a friend's backyard pool and subsequently donated his heart valves and corneas. Rob said it wasn't just because he and his wife, Amy, believed in donation, but because of how his son lived his life: always giving generously of himself.

"He didn't know what it was to be focused on himself," said Rob. "He worried about what everyone else was doing and how he could help them. He was already starting to understand what sacrifice was, even as a seven-year-old."

Amy remembered that in first grade, when Christopher earned a toy from the classroom treasure chest for good behavior, he chose a toy for his little sister, four-year-year-old Alexis. Amy said, "I know he would've said, 'I have two eyes mom, I can give them. ' That's how he was, with everything he had. It would be so sweet if someone got a part of his heart, because his heart was so good. He just wanted to be a hero like his dad. And that day he was a hero."

Rob echoed those thoughts: "He's infinitely more of a hero than people with finite capabilities on earth are. Our hope is that those that received a donation from Christopher will continue to grow and do good for others."