My son, Joshua, was a gentle soul. He dedicated his life to serving others as a Lauderhill firefighter and paramedic.
He was known to help others every day, not only when fire alarms rang. He would try to save animals, no matter how big or small — including the kittens he found on the job. At night, he pushed to ban boots in the sleeping quarters so his coworkers could rest more comfortably. That was Joshua. Even in the smallest moments, he was looking out for others.
So, when he renewed his driver’s license, it was no surprise that he not only said “yes” to registering as an organ donor, but made it his mission to convince everyone at the fire department to register, too.
“Why is this so important to you?” they would ask. I always knew the answer. It was who he was at his core; Joshua was a giver.
When Joshua’s life was taken in an off-duty accident at just 26 years old, my world shattered. There is no way to prepare a mother’s heart for that kind of loss. But because of the way he talked about organ donation — and how determined he was to get others to join him — it felt as though he always knew he would be able to give in a way that would impact the future.
In the years since, I have found my strength in my family, my faith, and our community. Together, we hold annual gatherings to honor the angelic ways that Joshua gave so much in life, and continues to give even now.
Our family has been deeply moved by the letters from people whose lives Joshua touched. We have received tributes from his fire department family, witnessed trees planted in his memory, and were deeply moved by four of his friends whose children now carry his name. Each note, each gesture, each story reminds us that Joshua’s spirit lives on in the lives he saved and the people he inspired.
The most powerful way to honor Joshua, and to honor so many families who have walked a similar path, is also one of the simplest: registering as an organ donor.
Saying “yes” to organ donation is a decision most of us will hopefully never have to think about again. But that one “yes” can mean everything to someone else. Joshua’s “yes” saved four people’s lives and helped more than 200 others through tissue donation. It brings me comfort to know that he is no longer just “my” Joshua, but “our” Joshua.
Joshua’s Judaism was very important to him, and in our faith, the highest value is “pikuach nefesh” — saving a life. It is considered so sacred that it overrides nearly every other commandment. Joshua lived that value from his work at the fire department through his final act as an organ, tissue, and bone donor.
One of the greatest gifts any of us can give is the gift of life. By registering as a donor, one person can save up to eight lives, restore sight through cornea donation, and improve the health and quality of life for many more through tissue donation.
Joshua is still a giver of life, even though he no longer is here with us. Now it is my turn — and the turn of his friends, our family, and the countless people who have been touched by organ donation — to carry his mission forward.
In Joshua’s memory, and with the voice he helped me and so many others find, I ask you to take a moment today to consider registering as an organ donor. I hope you will choose to learn more and register at DonateLifeFlorida.org.