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Officer Donates the Gift of Life After Tragic Death

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Photo of CHP Officer Kenyon Youngstrom (Courtesy of California Highway Patrol)

A California High Patrol Officer, killed in the line of duty, donates the gift of life after his passing.

On Sept. 4, 2012, 37-year-old Officer Kenyon Youngstrom pulled his car onto the shoulder of the southbound Interstate 680 to remove a dead deer. Authorities say Officer Youngstrom then pulled over a vehicle with an obstructed license plate and the driver fatally shot Youngstrom in the head. The shooter, 36-year-old Christopher Boone Lacy was later shot by a fellow CHP officer after they arrived on the scene. Investigators found out that Lacy was mentally troubled and pro-guns. Both Officer Youngstrom and Lacy were pronounced dead at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

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www.donatelifecalifornia.org.

As a registered organ donor, Officer Youngstrom’s spirit continues to live on in those he helped after his death. A few fortunate people received his organs and were given another chance at life. A 52-year-old woman from the Bay Area who waited for a transplant since 2002 received Officer Youngstrom’s right kidney. A 29-year-old mother on the wait list for three years received Youngstrom’s left kidney and pancreas. Another 63-year-old woman from the Bay Area received his liver. Lastly, a 50-year-old man received a new heart from Officer Youngstrom.

Donate Life Calfornia is the state-authorized nonprofit organization responsible for managing the organ, eye and tissue registry. Their mission is to save lives by inspiring people to sign up with the state organ, eye and tissue donor registry.

For more information go to www.donatelifecalifornia.org.