Jul 20, 2008 10:51 pm US/Central
A Mother Campaigns To Save Young Lives
(WCCO)
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Harley Dahl received a kidney transplant from Christopher Benz after he committed suicide.
Larry and Kari Dahl/CBS
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Christopher Benz died by his own hand at age 17, but his organs have gone on to help other continue to live.
CBS
It's been more than a year since
Janet Benz lost her youngest son, Christopher, to suicide. In her grief, she resolved to educate people about teen suicide prevention and organ donation.
Last weekend, Benz hosted the second annual Christopher Benz Memorial Youth Baseball Tournament in Plymouth to raise money for SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education).
"Christopher loved baseball," she remembered. Her son died when he was just 17 years old.
Two middle-aged men who now carry organs transplanted from Christopher were on hand for the games. John Sagen, 65, has Christopher's liver and one of his kidneys. Gary Glenn, 50, has the teen's heart.
The two were introduced to each other by Janet at the tournament last weekend.
John showed Gary a photo of Christopher which John carries in his wallet.
"It saved my life," John told Gary, as Janet told both, "So great to see you both here, like a miracle."
Seeing the men at the game, it was hard to believe both of them were so close to dying just 18 months ago.
Gary's two brothers and mother, Carole Glenn, were also at the game to support Janet's efforts to prevent suicides and encourage organ donations. Back in January 2007, Carole Glenn kept a vigil at her son's hospital bed. After two heart attacks and many other medical problems, she had little hope her son would live much longer.
In another hospital, Janet Benz was losing her youngest son to suicide. She kept her head close to his heart, which she said she first heard beating when she was pregnant with Christopher.
"It was one of the very last things that I got to hear from him so I will always remember that," said Janet Benz.
In his final hours, he was covered with a prayer shawl, which his mother cherishes and often uses to comfort herself today.
Eighteen months after Christopher died, she finally got to meet the man who got her son's heart. WCCO-TV was there when they met at Gary Glenn's house the day before the memorial baseball tournament. It was a very emotional meeting with lots of hugs and some tears as Gary's brothers and mom also joined in.
Janet told Gary, "You look wonderful!"
Gary replied, "I feel real good!"
The next day, Janet introduced Gary to John Sagen, whom she met last year.
Janet has also met a 3-year-old boy named Harley Dahl who has Christopher's other kidney. Harley, named after his dad's favorite motorcycle, is now a thriving, spirited child. His parents said he was a very sickly toddler when he received the transplanted kidney in January 2007. Here are a few photos they've shared with us:
Harley's family was not able to make the suicide awareness tournament but they say they are very grateful for the organ donation. (He has a
Caring Bridge Web site where you can follow his medical journey.)
Janet says she feels comfort seeing her son live on in Harley, Gary and John. She hopes by sharing her family's loss other will be become more aware of importance of education about suicide prevention and the need for organ donations.
For more information on SAVE or to donate to the Christopher Benz Memorial Fund,
click here. To hear how you can register to become an organ donor, visit
LifeSource.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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