Emilee: A Donor Angel, A Donor Hero

A mere three months old, Emilee Torres became a donor angel in 2002 and saved the lives of two children with her gifts. Emilee’s big brown eyes and two dimples brought smiles and happiness to her family. Her mother Krystal, nicknamed Emilee “her little Eeyore” and her grandmother called Emilee “her little ladybug.” Despite immeasurable grief at her passing, Emilee’s parents made a heroic decision and consented to donation. During a time of tremendous loss, they set aside their heartache for a moment and thought of others who had children that were ill and suffering. Her parents learned that Emilee’s aortic and pulmonary valves were recovered, along with her heart. A one-week old in a nearby state received Emilee’s gift of an aortic valve saving his life. The gift of her pulmonary valve provided a gift of hope to an infant on the East Coast.

At the funeral for Emilee, the song “Hero” by Enrique Iglesias was played honoring Emilee’s gifts. “I can be your hero, baby. I will stand by you forever” as part of the chorus lyrics are even more meaningful when you consider the impact of Emilee’s life-saving gifts on the recipients and their families. Although they continue to miss her every day, her family understands that Emilee’s legacy of life lives on in others.

“Little Angels”

When God calls little children to dwell with him above,
We mortals sometime question the wisdom of his love
For no heartache compares with the death of one small child
Who does so much to make our world seem wonderful and mild,
Perhaps God tires of calling the aged to his fold,
So, He picks a rosebud, before he can grow old.
God knows how much we need them, and so he takes but a few
To make the land of Heaven more beautiful to view.
Believing this is difficult still, yet somehow we must try,
The saddest word that mankind knows will always be “Goodbye.”
So, when a little child departs, we who are left behind must realize God loves children,
Angels are hard to find.

~Author Unknown