"Mom, I love you." Those were the last words Aaron Stephenson said to his mother, Central City resident Karen Stephenson. The two spoke by telephone in January of this year, in a seemingly routine conversation. But the events that followed would change the significance of those words forever.

Aaron Stephenson, 45, grew up in Central City and became an emergency medical technician (EMT) while a student at Central City High School. He went on to study paramedicine at Creighton University and headed west to California after graduation. San Diego was his home for 20 years — he left an indelible mark on the city through his lifesaving work as a paramedic.

“He was such a good man. A wonderful father,” says Karen. “He was the heart of our family.”

Aaron was also a registered organ donor. Shortly after calling his mother that day in January, Aaron suffered a medical emergency. Karen says it happened while he was driving, but Aaron had the presence of mind to pull over on the side of the road. Good Samaritans pulled over to help, administering CPR until first responders arrived. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Aaron’s life could not be saved. But the pink dot on his driver license meant his story would not end that fateful day.

Lifesharing, the organ procurement organization (OPO) in San Diego, was determined to see Aaron live on as an organ donor. Their nurses attempted to identify patients who would be a match for Aaron’s organs. Aaron was able to donate two organs: his liver saved the life of someone on the transplant waiting list and his lungs were donated to scientists for research.

“He was always thinking of giving,” said Karen of her son. The magnitude of Aaron’s gift is something that cannot be understated. There are more than 100,000 patients on the transplant waiting list in the U.S. Of that number, more than 10,000 patients are waiting for a liver. A liver transplant is the only treatment for end-stage liver disease.

Before Aaron’s organs were recovered for transplantation and research, his paramedic colleagues lined the halls of the hospital, standing silently in uniform. It is a tradition known as an “Honor Walk” — a final salute to an organ donor before their body is wheeled to the operating room for donation. Dozens of first responders and medical personnel paused to pay their respects. It was a poignant act of reverence for this Central City native who was both a hero in life and a hero in death.

April 30th is Donor Remembrance Day, in honor of all those who have given the gift of life.