Kirk M. Walker was very involved in school and church activities. Along with his siblings, Keith, Kirk and Kelly sang often at church, both as a group and individually. Kirk was an active bicyclist and was working on an old VW Beetle in his garage that he planned to sell.

One September night in 1987, after a church youth service, Kirk went out for a soda with a friend who needed some reinforcement and direction. While driving home on a very curvy section of the road, Kirk was involved in a major auto collision. He sustained severe head trauma and was in a coma for three days. “Our family was surrounded by friends and family as we prayed for God’s will to be done,” said his father, Roger.

After Kirk was declared brain dead, the doctor offered the Walkers three choices: They could continue to work to sustain Kirk’s bodily functions, which could last for several days before he shut down; they could take him off the ventilator and let his body take its natural course; or they could choose organ donation.

“Knowing our son, we immediately responded: option three,” said Roger. “On Sept. 25, 1987, at age 17, Kirk donated his organs, tissue and corneas, and as a result, many were touched and helped by his gift. We received a letter from the farmer who got his heart and heard great reports on several other recipients. The knowledge that so many were helped has made our loss so much more bearable.

“Subsequently, our family has been asked to share our story with doctors, nurses and hospital chaplains, and to comfort other donor families,” concluded Roger. “For the past 16 years, we have served on Lifeline of Ohio’s Board of Directors, representing donor families. It has been an honor to be part of such an altruistic effort, helping to meet the needs of so many who are waiting for a transplant.”