Thomas Anthony Pettit loved kids and doing volunteer work for the local youth baseball and softball associations. Thomas's willingness to help others led him to assist a friend with cutting firewood. On Dec. 22, 2007, Thomas, along with his stepson Brandon Witt, was cutting the firewood from a tall stack of downed trees when Thomas slipped and fell, suffering a fatal injury. Acknowledging his giving nature, Thomas's family chose donation on his behalf. Thomas Pettit's donation resulted in 82 grafts, which have been life changing and life enhancing for recipients in need of transplanted tissues.

Thomas's Story

Thomas Anthony Pettit loved kids, spending a lot of his time doing volunteer work. He was a former board member of the Sherman, Tex. Youth Baseball and Softball Association and served as president of the Sherman Youth Softball Association for several years. When Thomas found a bit of spare time, he also loved golf.

He was married to Deborah Pettit for 17 years. He was a great father to three boys and one daughter, as well as a grandfather of two.

Thomas' willingness to help others led him to volunteer to cut firewood to assist a friend. On Dec. 22, 2007, Thomas, along with his stepson Brandon Witt, was cutting firewood at a construction site in his hometown. It was an overcast day with a cold front moving during one of the coldest winters in recent years. They were working on the tall stack of downed trees, when Thomas slipped and fell, suffering a devastating injury that proved fatal. Acknowledging his giving nature, Thomas' family chose donation on his behalf.

In August of the following year, Thomas's wife Debi received a letter (anonymous at the time) from Mrs. Ianeiro explaining her son, Joey, had received a tissue graft from Thomas. Despite being anonymous, there were enough clues in the letter that allowed son Brandon to look up Joey on Facebook.

After Brandon added Joey to his Friend list, there was a bit of awkwardness as Joey didn't understand why a random person from Texas was adding him. Joey caught up with Brandon a few days later. The boys talked for hours about Thomas, what Joey was doing after surgery and what he planned to do later in life.

Brandon and Joey became good friends online, keeping up with each other daily. Joey and Brandon both have a strong passion for baseball, which not only gave them common ground on which to base their friendship, but also a connection with Thomas. Their connection became personal when they met for the first time at the annual donor remembrance ceremony held by the Transplant Services Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Thomas Pettit's donation resulted in 82 grafts, including corneas, skin and musculoskeletal tissue. The generosity and caring of Thomas's family on his behalf have been life-changing and life-enhancing for recipients in need of transplanted tissues.