Jose Gutierrez was a simple and humble man. He enjoyed reading and was an avid supporter of education. Jose delved into literature and practiced English whenever he could. Jose loved the ocean, enjoyed the outdoors and treasured morning walks whenever we visited new places. He had a positive attitude and optimistic view of life. In May of 2006, his family made the collective decision to donate their father's organs after he suffered severe brain trauma. "We knew that organ donation was the right thing to do," said his children. "Two years later our lives have been deeply enriched by the donation experience."

Jose's Story

Jose Gutierrez was a simple and humble man. He enjoyed reading and was an avid supporter of education. Jose delved into literature and practiced English whenever he could. He enjoyed learning new vocabulary words and completed night courses at the local high school. Jose loved the ocean, complete with its openness and relaxing feel. He enjoyed the outdoors and treasured morning walks whenever we visited new places. He had a positive attitude and optimistic view of life. "You can do it, dude" was his response when his children faced a challenge.

In May of 2006, his family made the collective decision to donate their father's organs after he suffered severe brain trauma. "We knew that organ donation was the right thing to do. Two years later our lives have been deeply enriched by the donation experience," said his children.

Jose's family connected with the recipient of his heart, who expressed his unconditional gratitude for extending his life. "We received the letter with delight knowing the recipient was recovering well. However, we yearned for our father and continued to mourn his absence. Just like the recipient's numerous drafts, it took us several attempts to respond to his heartfelt appreciation," said Jose's family.

The Gutierrez family attended their first National Kidney Foundation Transplant Games in Pittsburgh in the summer of 2010. The family describes how the experience helped them in their grief journey. "The Games provided a deeper opportunity to heal and reflect on his life, which continues to enhance the lives of the four recipients and their families. The Games culminated with a tremendous feeling of empowerment and resilience. Transplantation is by far the most technically advanced aspect of modern medicine, yet it's the wonder of human kindness that we marvel: the ability to think outside of ourselves during our deepest loss to save and extend the lives of others."