Patrick Preston enjoyed driving fast, taking chances, living wildly and having fun. He grew up as an only child who never knew his father. As he grew older, he dreamt of having a family life. By the age of 26, he was the proud father of two boys and a girl; his dreams were fulfilled. He pushed hard in life to support his children in the hope of providing them with the life he never had and a dad who cared.

Patrick served as a military police officer for several years before being honorably discharged and then worked as a lineman. On August 5, 1987, Patrick, 29, was repairing an old power pole when, due to poor communication, he climbed to the top of the pole and his body made contact with a live power line. He never again regained consciousness.

“He spent six days in the hospital, and my mother knew there was no life left in him,” recalled his daughter, Heidi Ann Peterson, who wasn’t quite three years old at the time. “In her words, ‘His soul had left the room.’ Organ donation wasn’t a thought until a doctor approached her, asking if she had considered it. She thought it was a silly question and had no doubt about whether to donate. In doing so, she had no idea that her broken-hearted decision would be the very thing that would bring her young daughter peace of mind 23 years later.”

Last spring, while trying to learn more about the father she couldn’t remember, Heidi Ann discovered a letter from the Red Cross dated 1987 that thanked her mother for her generous donation. It served as the catalyst to an intense search for answers about her father’s life and death. Heidi Ann kept hitting dead ends until she contacted LifeSource and learned that her father had saved five lives. One of the recipients, Betty, was still alive.

“Meeting with her was a truly life changing moment,” said Heidi Ann. “What a wonderful woman she is. I have since formed a bond with Betty and her husband, John, and feel as though they have always been in my life. I have always wondered, ‘Why? Why did my Dad have to die?’ Without ever questioning again, I understood.”

Heidi Ann went to say: “I can’t explain enough how deep my gratitude is for LifeSource. How do you thank an organization for bridging the gap between the loss of life and the gift of life? My father has been honored in so many ways in the past few months and his memory continues to live on.

“Not knowing my father was difficult. Building a legacy for him with the help of LifeSource was easy, rewarding and spiritually lifting. The gift of life isn’t something that people cherish for a short time. Nearly 23 years later, people are still cherishing the precious gift one selfless man gave.”