A 21-year-old man, Chris LePage, passed away due to fentanyl poisoning as he tried to conform, however, his decision to donate his organs saved three lives. Chris had developed a drug dependence over two years, starting with marijuana use in school to be more sociable, eventually leading to harder drugs. His parents, Maria, 60, and John, 65, rushed to Boynton Beach, Florida, when informed of their son’s hospitalization.
Upon arrival, they were informed that Chris, on life support with no brain activity, would not recover. The family decided to halt life support, allowing Chris to donate his kidney, pancreas, and liver, benefiting three individuals. Maria, a nurse from Atlanta, Georgia, expressed the importance Chris placed on organ donation and the emotional difficulty of leaving him in the hospital to undergo the procedure.
Describing Chris as a charming individual who brightened any room, Maria recalled his journey from seeking acceptance by using drugs to seeking help in rehab after acknowledging his problem. Despite efforts to recover, Chris’s drug use escalated upon meeting his girlfriend in 2021, leading to fentanyl consumption and repeated overdoses requiring hospitalization.
Tragically, on April 7, 2023, after Maria’s unanswered text urging Chris to seek help, they received a call from the hospital reporting Chris’s overdose. Rushing to Florida in a record seven-hour drive, Maria feared the worst upon reaching the hospital at 2 am the next day. Confronted with the reality of his irreversible brain damage, the family chose to donate his organs before saying their goodbyes.
Although unaware of the recipients, Maria finds solace in the knowledge that Chris’s organs transformed three lives. She wishes for Chris to be remembered for his compassionate nature and love for his family rather than his struggles with addiction. Maria cherishes the support shown at Chris’s funeral and remains dedicated to preserving his memory.
The family’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of organ donation and the enduring legacy of those who give the gift of life.
