Zachary Torres was just eleven years old when he passed away in January of 2005.
His mother Sylvia Torres says he was generous, full of life, and loved sports.
"He was willing to help anybody. I mean, if he saw that you were struggling or something, he would help you... If you were upset, he'd find a way to make you laugh," she says.
Today, he could be considered a hero.
"I guess we were approached within the last few minutes of his life before he got pulled off life support," his father Abe Torres says. "We were both asked if we ever considered it."
His parents say they didn't think twice about donating his organs and tissues, because they know it's what he would have wanted.
"It feels great because you know that he's out there somewhere. Where, we don't know, but we know he's out there, just HELPING," Sylvia Torres says.
"To me, it's just a great feeling," agrees Abe Torres. "That's all I can possibly say, it's a great feeling."
A group called LifeGift is responsible for the process.
Clinical Specialist Jacob Lustgarten says the need for organ donors is dire.
"Nationally there are 108,000 people on the waiting list, awaiting a transplant today," Lustgarten says.
Every 11 minutes, someone's added to that list.
Every day, 18 die waiting, unless people like the Torres' step forward.
"You don't ever think about that until it just hits you and then you're put in that situation to make that decision for a loved one," Sylvia Torres says.
"They said he always wanted to get out of Slaton and be something big and I think this is one of the biggest things he could have done, for sure," adds Lustgarten.
Lustgarten says the sign-up process takes less than five minutes and it's about as easy as sending a text message.
For more information on organ donor facts and how you can become a donor, click on "Web Links."
