2017 Dustin Kitts

DUSTIN KITTS

Organ Donor

Age 17 ~ Seymour, TN

Donated on 6/4/2000

Honored by dcids.org

Dustin Kitts will be remembered for his love of family, friends, and God. School had just let out for the summer, the Kitts family was packing for a lake getaway. During that time, Dustin’s car veered into oncoming traffic about 5 miles from home. He was taken by helicopter to the hospital where he died 3 days later. Since that day, the family has cherished 17 years of memories of him. Dustin played on the traveling hockey team his brother Drew coached. They all miss his crooked grin, quirky sense of humor, his love of Grateful Dead, snowboarding, and hockey. Part of Dustin continues to live on through organ donation.

Dustin’s Story

It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon on June 1, 2000. School had just let out for summer, and our family was packing for a lake getaway. While running an errand, Dustin’s car veered into oncoming traffic about 5 miles from our home. He was taken by helicopter to the hospital where he died 3 days later.

Since that day, we cherish the 17 years of memories we have of him. His love for his family, friends, and God were apparent even on the ordinary days of his life. He was so protective of his younger sister, Whitney, even comforting her when a boy she liked quit calling; neglecting to mention that he told the boy to never call his sister again. His older brother, Drew, has plenty of memories of Dustin playing travel hockey on a team Drew coached. His big bear hugs, crooked grin, quirky sense of humor, love of Grateful Dead, snowboarding, and hockey were all epic.

For the first year after his death, there were a couple of his friends at our house at all times. It would have been his senior year, and our hearts were breaking. Dustin’s friends, our friends, extended family, and church family were so supportive.

Knowing that part of Dustin lived on through organ donation brought us comfort. I realized how grateful I would have been if someone could’ve given Dustin a gift to restore his body. This helped me understand the joy recipients feel when they are given the gift of life. Because I have known the great pain of loss, I can feel the great joy the gift of life brings to families.

We met one of Dustin’s recipients; Ronnie received his pancreas and kidney, and knowing him has added such joy to our lives. Although we haven’t met the other recipients, we do know a little about their stories and that gives us peace.

Attending the 2016 Donate Life America Transplant Games really put a face on organ transplantation for us. Meeting so many recipients and hearing their stories made us feel like a part of a family. At one time, we thought that we would like to meet all of Dustin’s recipients, but now we are content to just be a part of the circle of life. When we get to heaven, can’t wait to see the full impact of organ donation – how because of the gift of life, a man gets to be a grandfather will impact his grandchild’s life, and then that child – you get what we mean. The gift of life impacts not only the recipient, but the generations to come, and that is AMAZING – kind of like our son, Dustin.