2017 Manuel Perez Garcia

ol_manuel-perez-garciaMANUEL PEREZ GARCIA

Organ Donor

Age 17 ~ Compton CA

Donated on 3/19/07

at St. Francis Medical Center

Honored by OneLegacy.org

Manuel was born in Bellflower, California on November 26, 1989 and was raised in Compton, California. He attended Dominguez High School. He played soccer as a young child and grew into a skilled soccer player winning many tournaments. Manuel was a good student and a respectful, kind young man. He loved art and was finding ways to learn to improve his art skills through classes in school. His mother, Martha, shares that he was just beginning to learn how to express himself through his art work. Manuel was able to donate his heart, liver and kidneys to help 4 people. “It is amazing to see how Manuel’s legacy lives on in others especially this young lady,” Manuel’s liver recipient states.

 

Manuel’s Story

Manuel was born in Bellflower, California on November 26, 1989 and was raised in Compton, California. He attended Dominguez High School. Manuel played soccer as a young child and grew into a skilled soccer player winning many tournaments.

Manuel was a good student and a respectful, kind young man. He loved art and was finding ways to learn to improve his art skills through classes in school. His mother, Martha, shares that he was just beginning to learn how to express himself through his art work.

His brother, Erick, shares, “March 17, 2007 was the worst day of my entire family’s lives. My little brother was shot”. Manuel was declared brain dead two days later on March 19, 2007. Manuel’s parents were devastated and could not make the final decision about organ donation. Erick and his brother thought long and hard about how generous their brother, Manny, was and how he would say “yes” to helping others. They decided it was the right thing to do.

Manuel was able to donate his heart, liver and kidneys to help 4 people. For Martha and her family, seeing how Manuel’s beautiful gift has helped the young lady who received his liver, has brought so much comfort in their lives. “It is amazing to see how Manuel’s legacy lives on in others especially this young lady,” she states.

Their family’s decision to say “yes” to donation has inspired Martha to become a Donate Life “Embajador”.   Through sharing Manuel’s story at the Mexican consulate, health fairs and other community events, Martha is able to bring awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation to the Latino community and help dispel any myths about donation. She shares that Manuel at the young age of 17 was able to save the lives of others and also inspire others to become donors.

Martha feels that by becoming part of OneLegacy she has been able to learn how to cope with her grief and find the strength to share her story with others. She and her family feel honored to be part of the Donate Life community, and now, that Manuel will be honored on the 2017 Donate Life Rose Parade Float.