Joe Hecht
Type of Donation: Kidneys
Age and Location: Age 38– Sturgeon, MO
Date of Donation: July 25, 2020
Sponsor: Midwest Transplant Network
JOE’S STORY
Joe Hecht lived a life of adventures! As a kid, he visited Loch Ness in Scotland and had Christmas dinner on the USS Simon Lake AS-33 in Holy Loch, Scotland.
His mom, Sheila Hecht, was in the Navy. Growing up in Florida, he swam at the beach and played on the naval base. He graduated from high school in Washington and attended the University of Phoenix. Baseball, working on cars and jammin' to "California Love" by Tupac were his vibe.
Joe met his wife, Melissa, while she was working at an internship. The attraction was instant. "He's my first love." Together, they had adventures in the Amazon rainforest and Machu Picchu in Peru.
He loved spending time outdoors with their daughters, Elena and Isabelle. Their small family lived in mid-Missouri. His career as a hotel general manager meant that he met people every day and ensured hospitality and good experiences for guests.
Joe's willingness to help others is demonstrated by a story his mom shared. A friend was sick and needed a liver, so Joe was tested to be a donor but wasn't a match.
Joe has a proud family history of organ donation. His grandfather was a donor, and Joe often talked about the benefits of organ, eye and tissue donation. His wife and mother are registered donors. Melissa is a volunteer Ambassador for Midwest Transplant Network, the organ procurement organization serving Kansas and western Missouri.
Joe, 38, became a donor hero in July 2020. He was the victim of a senseless act of gun violence while leaving work. After learning that he wasn't going to survive, Melissa struggled. "Because he was so strong, I could never think about losing him."
Being a donor hero gives their family comfort. Joe's gift of his kidneys saved the lives of two people.
They're proud of Joe and keep him in their memories with the girls. "We always talk about daddy. He's a hero," said Melissa.