OPINION: Remembering my son this Hispanic Heritage Month

When my son Nicolas died suddenly days before his 16th birthday, saving other lives was not my first instinct. Yet in my heartbreak, I remembered my precious boy’s clear directions. He had recently told me he wanted to be an organ donor and save lives — and he did.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, I want others to know how Nicolas gave the ultimate gift. Because of Nic’s decision to be an organ donor, people are alive and well today. While our grief is still very real, knowing this heroic wish came true fills me with peace and pride.

Even as a teenager, Nicolas was my baby. He was the sweetest guy, and he was funny, too. A big-time prankster who could do hilarious voices, Nicolas was also very generous. My cuddle bug loved spending time with his friends and family. He was a Mama’s boy at heart, telling me about his first crush and his first kiss.

Things seemed to be going well last spring. Nicolas was finding his wings as a teen and had just gotten his driver’s license. After witnessing a fatal motorcycle accident a month before he died, he told me he wanted to be an organ donor if anything ever happened to him. Little did I know I would be faced with that decision on June 10, 2024.

Blindsided by the sudden death of my beloved boy, I almost dismissed the questions about organ donation. After all, nothing I did would bring my baby back. Thankfully, our heartfelt conversations about Nic’s commitment to be a donor helped me make a lifesaving choice.

Today, because of organ donation, Nicolas is still bringing joy and giving hope to people who need it most. His kidneys and liver are powering lives that hung in the balance before transplants. His corneas are giving sight to two people who desperately needed them. His tissue is bringing healing that would otherwise be impossible. My son’s light still shines brightly through the miracle of organ donation.

Nic’s legacy continues to bless me. For his whole life, Nicolas was my one and only child. After he passed away, I found out I was expecting a very unexpected baby. My beautiful little girl, Angel, was born at 5:25 p.m., months later but at the exact same time of day that her brother Nicolas took his last breath. My grandmother also believes he’s still visiting us through the radiant butterflies that flutter near our home.

Since his death, New Mexico Donor Services has honored Nicolas and helped us keep his memory alive. By posting stories, they help me stay connected with his friends and family, as we remember Nicolas together. Before this, my family never talked much about organ donation even though we had checked the boxes on our licenses. That’s changed now that we see how the power of organ donation brings hope in even the darkest times.

I was saddened to hear that, in New Mexico, there are more than 400 people waiting for a lifesaving organ, and more than 100,000 across the U.S., yet only half of New Mexicans have said “yes” to being an organ donor. I’m hoping that can change.

One thing I know is that family, faith, community and, especially, caring for one another are everything in the Hispanic community. Nicolas did that in life, and he did that in death. He continues to bless me, our family, his friends — and now people he never even met.

To become an organ donor like Nicolas, please visit New Mexico Donor Services.