Thirteen-year-old Evan Hauk was preparing for a family fishing trip by using worm prods to search for bait in the backyard. He suddenly fell on top of a prod and suffered an electrical shock that stopped his heart. Evan's mother, Jessica, said that donating Evan's tissue was a very easy decision to make. "When we knew Evan's heart wouldn't start again, the nurse asked me if we had thought about donation," she recalled. "I answered yes immediately. Donation is helping us live on. It keeps his memory alive, and we know that somewhere out there someone has a part of him and is living better because of him."

Evan's Story

Evan J. Hauk was a 13-year-old boy with a "heart of gold," according to his mother Jessica. He had a smile that would light up a room and always knew when someone needed a hug or laugh. "Evan had a way of starting to laugh at the smallest thing and making others laugh, too," she said.

Evan had bright blue eyes that lit up when he smiled. He loved fishing, hunting, football, snow, water skiing, hiking in the mountains and just being outside. He was a natural athlete and was always finding adventures with his sister and brother.

One day, Evan was preparing for a family fishing trip by using worm prods to search for bait in the backyard. He fell on top of a prod and suffered an electrical shock that stopped his heart.

Jessica said that donating Evan's tissue was a very easy decision to make. "When we knew Evan's heart wouldn't start again, the nurse asked me if we had thought about donation," she recalled. "I answered yes immediately. I knew Evan would want to help others."

They donated Evan's corneas, heart valves and the bones and connective tissue from his legs. If Evan could help another to live a longer, healthy life, the Hauk family wanted to help make that possible. "He lived a very full life in his short 13 years on Earth and did more than many do their entire lives," Jessica said. "We hope whoever has received the gifts from him will do the same.

"Donation is helping Evan to live on. It keeps his memory alive and we know that somewhere out there someone has a part of him and is living a better life because of him."