Wisconsin high school swimmer killed in crash donates organs, saving lives
"Grant's going to continue to support people, even in his death," Grant's head coach said.
"Grant's going to continue to support people, even in his death," Grant's head coach said.
"Grant's going to continue to support people, even in his death," Grant's head coach said.
The halls of Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, filled with applause, tears and hugs of support for the Freeze family in an honor walk on Sunday.
The family could be seen walking behind a team of doctors and nurses who led the organ retrieval and transplants for 16-year-old Grant Freeze.
The 16-year-old high schooler was in a head-on crash with a dump truck last Wednesday. Freeze was on his way to a swim practice at Ozaukee Aquatics.
Flight For Life airlifted Freeze to the hospital. He remained on life support for days but ultimately did not survive. Staff at Froedtert work with Versiti, which coordinates organ donations and helps connect the donor to potential recipients.
Freeze's swim coach at Ozaukee Aquatics, Steve Keller, said his decision to check that box on his driver's license not long ago will go on to change the lives of five others, with matches found for Freeze's heart, lungs, pancreas, liver and kidneys.
"He, you know, at 16 years old, made it a point to sign the back of his card that he would be an, an organ donor," Keller said.
Keller spoke with sister station WISN 12 News Friday, recalling a conversation he had with Freeze's mother.
"His mom said it yesterday: She was so happy that he took that decision away from them, that he made the decision, so this is how it was going to be. 'Mom and Dad, you didn't have to worry about it. And I got this,'" Keller said. "Grant's gonna continue to support people even in his death."
The organ donation Sunday went off without a hitch.
Keller received something from Freeze to hold close: family offered him a vial with an EKG strip of his heartbeat inside.
"At least I'll have a piece of him," Keller said.
Grant's mother, Kellie MacDonald Freeze, wrote in a statement to WISN 12 News, "We are so moved that hundreds of Grant’s friends, family, coaches, teammates, classmates and neighbors, as well as countless medical & hospital staff joined us as we cheered Grant into the operating room. It was a profound and life-affirming moment that I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but that we are honored to have been a part of. It was his final race and he is forever victorious and forever our champion."
She went on to say that Freeze's major organs were successfully transplanted and that she hopes they one day agree to communicate with the family so they can form a relationship.
"Grant is part of them, and they are a part of us. We are a family. We also continue to pray for the recovery of the other victim in the crash."
In a statement, Versiti Organ and Tissue said, "We hold the Freeze family in our thoughts and express our deepest gratitude for Grant’s life-giving gift. Their selfless act has brought hope and a new lease on life to those in need.
"Choosing to donate is a deeply personal act that offers enduring hope in the midst of profound loss. A donor’s gift can transform lives; one donor can save up to eight people through organ donation and help many more through tissue donation."
Ozaukee Aquatics organized a for the Freeze family.
