Neil Patel
Donor Hero
“Neil was a giving and caring person, always giving away the dollar in his pocket, and had never met a stranger. Neil didn’t care if you were rich or poor, young or old; he would talk to anyone about anything,” shared donor mom, Gira, about her son Neil.
“He played basketball in high school, and his team called him ‘chief’. Neil was particularly interested in hands-on work, so he worked in my shop in the steel industry every day, which brought our relationship closer together. Chicken was his absolute favorite food, whether it was buttered, curry or fried.
Neil was 38 years old when he passed away from cardiac arrest on March 19th, 2021. Neil gifted his kidneys, lungs, liver and corneas. The recipient of Neil’s lungs is a veteran and is so grateful that his life could continue thanks to Neil’s gift of life.
I originally became a registered donor because I believe in the mission. I had mentioned to Neil that he should register the next time he was at the DMV, but we never spoke of it again. Our family wasn’t even aware that Neil was a registered donor until the nurse gave us his wallet in the hospital. I pulled his license out, and there it was… the red heart. Neil’s intent to help others was evident in his decision to say “YES”.
Knowing that Neil went on to save and heal others allows me to sleep at night. As his mother, it means that he’s still living through others from generation to generation. On the 19th of every month, our family enjoys a meal together to remember Neil, share memories, and celebrate the hero he is through donation.
I wear my Donate Life pin daily to remember Neil and the gifts he gave. If you are considering whether you should register, read this and think about saying “YES” to save someone else’s life by being an organ, eye and tissue donor.”
