Since he was born, Jason Jiaa had great energy. He jumped around to songs by the Backstreet Boys before he could talk. As he grew older, he was able to channel his energy into creative endeavors such as drawing, oil painting, piano, violin, gymnastics, and Tae Kwon Do. While he had impressive artistic talent, he was most enthusiastic about animals, and by age 11 he already had his heart set on being a marine biologist. On February 10, 2008, Jason suffered sudden anaphylactic shock and was later pronounced brain dead. His family donated his organs and corneas so that other parents and families would not have to feel the same loss they experienced.

Jason's Story

Since he was born, Jason Jiaa had great energy. He jumped around to songs by the Backstreet Boys before he could talk. As he grew older, he was able to channel that energy into creative endeavors such as drawing, oil painting, piano, violin, gymnastics, and tae kwon do. But he was most enthusiastic about animals. He would constantly read about them and could rattle off facts at a moment's notice about his favorite, the platypus. At age 11, he already had his heart set on being a marine biologist.

Jason's compassion was not exclusive to animals. Even when he was forced to go to a learning center with tedious math and reading drills, he would begrudgingly endure the work without complaint. He knew his mother has his best interest in mind in sending him. Also, even at his young age he had a girlfriend, who unfortunately moved with her family to California. He would e-mail her every day, signing each message, "With all the love in my heart."

On one occasion, Jason's father told him and his siblings, Johnston and Jennifer, that if they were good children he would give them all his money. Jason, the youngest, immediately answered: "Daddy, I'm happy and satisfied with my life, just give your money and business to my brother and sister, and needy people." His pure love and total unselfishness touched his family deeply.

On February 20, 2008, Jason suffered an anaphylactic shock while eating noodles. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced brain dead. With the great support of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation and New Jersey Sharing Network at their time of grief, his family said "yes" to donation to prevent another family from feeling the loss that they felt.

Jason's 11-year-old heart was transplanted into an eight-year-old girl from North Carolina, and his kidney and pancreas into a 33-year-old man in New Jersey. His other kidney was transplanted into a 55-year-old man in Illinois; and his liver went to a 47-year-old woman in Maryland. His corneas were also donated to help the blind see.

Although Jason's life was short, he acquired numerous skills, found his passion, and experienced his first love. He is remembered fondly and continues to change the world through his life-saving donations to others and the inspiration he has brought to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.