After a lifetime spent as an emergency room physician and medical entrepreneur, Dr. Victor Miranda died as he had lived: saving lives.

On December 11, 2008, at the age of 52, Victor suffered cardiac arrest as a result of an undetected congenital heart defect. His family was devastated at the tragic loss, but even in their grief they knew that Victor’s lifelong dedication to treating the most critically ill patients could be continued in his last moments through organ donation. Because of Victor’s relative youth and overall good health from years of golfing and daily fitness routines, he was able to donate organs to four critically ill people in the Houston area. Many other people benefitted from gifts of tissue, skin and bone as well. All of the beneficiaries of his donations are doing well today.

Victor was born in Lima, Peru, and excelled in all aspects of his life, both personally and professionally. After moving to Texas as a boy, Victor earned an undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and then graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch. He became a general surgical resident at John Sealy Hospital in Galveston, Texas, but quickly learned that his real passion was caring for patients in urgent need of medical care.

Victor worked as a board-certified emergency room physician throughout his career and then went on to found several successful companies in the medical field, including Stat Healthcare, which merged with AmHealth and American Medical Response in 1995. At the time of his death, Victor was the co-founder and CEO of EHC, an emergency and diagnostic center in Houston, which was the fulfillment of a lifetime dream.

“Donating my dad’s organs meant more to me than I ever could have imagined. It’s comforting to know that he saved lives his entire life as an emergency room doctor and continued to save lives even after his death. I know he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way,” said Victor’s daughter, Ashley Miranda.

Victor’s legacy will continue not only through his three children and their children, but also through his organ recipients who received the greatest gift of all – a second chance at life.