Zachary Wildhaber enjoyed bringing a smile to peoples' faces. He loved fishing, hunting, and figuring out how things worked, and had planned to attend technical school in the fall of 2012. However, on February 13 of that year, Zac was critically injured in a car accident and declared brain dead at age 17. Zac was able to save five lives through organ donation and save many more through his gifts of bone and tissue. "Without organ donation, Zac's story is a tragic loss," said his mother Amy. "With organ donation, Zac's story is a tragic loss that ends with a lot of love and healing for all involved."

Zachary's Story

Zachary Wildhaber wanted everyone to be happy. It bothered him hugely if someone was upset or in pain. Zac was known as quite the character, and he went out of his way to make people laugh. He loved to fish, hunt and enjoy the outdoors, and from an early age, he liked taking things apart, and, as he grew older, putting them back together.

Just 17, Zac had completed his high school course work and planned to attend Linn State Technical College in the fall, but the preceding February, Zac was critically injured in an automobile collision. He was later declared brain dead.

"On Feb. 14, 2012 our lives changed forever, and our son is greatly missed daily," his mother Amy said. "We find much joy in knowing that Zac has helped so many people. This is the most comforting feeling anyone can experience in the face of death. Zachary became a silent hero to many on February 16."

Zac's family gave authorization for his organs to be donated, along with his bone and tissue. His tragic death has produced a legacy of life: an 11-year-old boy from Texas received Zac's heart; a 54-year-old man received his lungs; a Missourian received his liver; a 39-year-old woman received a kidney; while a 57-year-old man received his kidney and pancreas. Many more people were helped with his bone and tissue.

Zac's family has gone on to establish Zac's Challenge, a campaign to increase awareness about organ donation. They are especially concerned with telling the story of organ donation from the donor family point of view, to explain how comforting and therapeutic it can be.

"Without organ donation, Zac's story is a tragic loss," Amy said. "With organ donation, Zac's story is a tragic loss that ends with a lot of love and healing for all involved."