The Story of Donor, Cole Baldwin

A family's journey through the loss of their son and the giving of life.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• organ
• donation
• transplantation
• Donate
• Life
• Today
• Living
• Legacy
• Cole
• Baldwin
• lifecenter
• northwest
• register

[marwan6445]

cole and i went to the same school, he was such a great friend i miss him a lot. . we had the same 6th grade teacher i always sat on his bench with him. he will never be forgotten he made such a great impact on my life. R.I.P cole <3 i love you

[lizzy3479]

I was in 2nd grade and i was going to Cole's school when this happened to him, now I am in 7th grade, but only a short while ago i was in 6th grade and i had the same teacher Cole had, I used to walk by his bench and think of him, he will never be forgotten. : ) <3

[jacksonjones402]

awesome video in 2005 i was on my death bed in i got a life saving heart transplant on december 30

[Hagar60]

I have not been the same since that night. it has take a heavy toll on me my ex-wife and Merle's two younger brothers. But watching this video makes me want to get intouch with the people that Merle helped. Your loss Like ours will never heal...But each passing day we get stronger the pain will never leave but will stand taller each day. to you the Baldwin Family I say thank you,

[Hagar60]

Merle was like me did not want to be on a machine. His mom and talked and I told her I would give the verbal order to unplug...She had been thru enough. To this day that has been the hardest thing to live with Is that I gave that order to let my son die...I know he saved 3 lives in the Seattle area. both kidneys and his liver went to people that night.

[Hagar60]

I learned to not ask how much more can I take. I found out that Saturday when I got the call from John and raced to the hospital. Laurie, the boys mom did not belive me and that was the hardest thing to do for me, to tell her our oldest was not going to live. He had not been breathing fo an hour the EMT's figured but they managed to revive him. Laurie got up to Seattle that Saturday night. We talked to the Doctors and I already knew he was gone.

[Hagar60]

I just want to say that watching this post has helped me some. Oct. 29th 2008 I had to give the order at Harborview to unplug our son Merle who was 18 yrs old. 4 days prior his 16 yr old brother John found him not breathing. Merle and John lived with me in Seattle. Their younger brother Richard lived with his mom in CA. Merle had gotten into drugs hard drugs and needles. His mom and I had only been divorced about six months.

[martajayne67]

This is wonderful!!! The Baldwin's are so honored to have Cole's story posted so it can be shared and hopefully get people to seriously consider registering to be an organ donor. Our thanks to the Donate Life Today Registry for what you've done and for all that you do. You guys are the best!!!

Your's truly,

Marta Baldwin

Cole's mom