Eric Michael Helm was five months from graduating high school when he left home the morning of January 12, 2010. While driving he crossed the center line, hit a truck head-on and died at the scene. Eric had not talked about becoming an organ and tissue donor, but had expressed to his mother Kim how proud he was of what his father Bob did for a living as an organ donor coordinator for Gift of Life Michigan. Eric looked forward to New Year's Day and all the college football games and parades every year. "He would be incredibly honored to be part of this float," said Kim.

Eric's Story

Eric Michael Helm was born Dec. 17, 1991. The oldest of three boys, he had beautiful blue eyes and grew to be a tall, handsome 18-year-old. . He loved to make people laugh, had a great smile, and enjoyed life fully. He loved sports and participated in many of them. His favorite was baseball; he played from T-ball to 16 years old and was a huge Detroit Tigers fan. He also played football for five years. He was brilliant at memorizing sports stats and his dream job would have been being a sportscaster.

Eric was five months from graduating from Jenison High School when he left home the morning of Jan. 12, 2010 to pick up his girlfriend for school. He was very familiar with the roads to her house, but that morning, he was distracted and crossed the center line, hitting a truck head-on. He died at the scene from massive internal injuries. Eric had not talked specifically about becoming an organ and tissue donor with his family, but he had expressed to his mom, Kim, how proud he was of what his dad Bob did for a livingas an organ donor coordinator for Gift of Life Michigan. The Helms had no doubts that Eric would have wanted to help others, even in his death. It was a way to make something positive out of something so tragic.

"When Eric's accident and death occurred, we wondered if Bob could ever return back to work," said Kim. "His job was so close to everything we experienced that horrible day. The pain of sudden loss, a young life lost, families torn apart from their grief. In the 18 months since our loss of Eric, Bob has had many difficult similarities to our own loss at work, and difficult moments. However, we feel so strongly that organ and tissue donation offers hope to people and families, that it eases some of the pain of these tragic deaths. Families are comforted knowing he has experienced what they are going through.".

Eric and his best friend loved to cheer on Michigan State football just to spite his parents being University of Michigan fans. He looked forward to New Year's Day and all the college football games and parades every year. "He would be incredibly honored to be part of this float," said Kim.