April marks National Donate Life Month, a time dedicated to encouraging Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors while honoring those who have saved and healed lives through the gift of donation. This Donate Life Month story reflects the power of one decision and the legacy it can create.
This year’s theme centers on connection and legacy, symbolized by trees and reminding us that, like roots beneath the surface, donation connects lives in ways that may never be seen.
The Donate Life Month Story Behind Alan’s Legacy
Alan Berumen’s family was chosen for the South Texas Blood & Tissue Donate Life flag-raising ceremony, the kickoff to monthlong celebrations honoring and remembering tissue donors.
His sister, Brenda Berumen-Flucker, shared his poignant story.
Donate Life Month carries a deeply personal meaning for Brenda. Her younger brother passed away in February 2025 at just 27 years old following a car accident.
What followed was a journey marked by grief, difficult decisions and a lasting legacy.
“My brother was and will always be my reluctant best friend,” she shared during the ceremony. “He filled spaces and rooms with laughs and joy. He never took anything for granted, and his spirit of generosity was unyielding.”
Even in the face of unimaginable circumstances, Alan remained true to who he was. Registered as a donor at 18, his wishes were clear.
“If I’m not using them, why wouldn’t I want someone who needs them to take them?” he would often say.
Through tissue donation, Alan’s legacy continued.
The Power of One Decision
A single tissue donor can change up to 75 lives.
And the impact across the region continues to grow, said Audra Taylor, Chief Operating Officer of South Texas Blood & Tissue. In 2025 alone, the organization:
- Partnered with more than 100 hospitals and medical facilities
- Served 25 counties across South Texas and recovered more than 553 tissue donations
“That’s a potential impact on over 41,450 lives,” Taylor said.
Those are not just numbers. They stand for patients healed, mobility restored, reduced pain — and families given hope.
Compassion in the hardest moments
After the accident, Alan was left with locked-in syndrome — fully aware, but unable to move or speak.
He recognized his family and understood everything around him, yet could only communicate through blinks, once for yes and twice for no.
In those quiet, fragile moments, his family asked the hardest questions. Through those blinks, Alan confirmed his wishes, continuing to make his own decisions.
For Brenda and her family, the donation process became a source of unexpected comfort. She described the care team not just as professionals, but as compassionate guides during one of the most challenging times of her life.
“They talked to him like a person. Held his hand. Asked for his confirmation and waited for his response,” she said. “He wasn’t just a patient. He was a person making a choice.”
Even in his final hours, Alan’s generosity continued. When asked if his care could be extended slightly to allow the recipients time to arrive, he blinked once.
“I knew he was suffering,” Brenda said, holding back tears. “But even in those moments, he chose others before himself.”
Rooted in connection
This year’s Donate Life Month theme uses the imagery of trees to represent how deeply connected we all are through organ and tissue donation.
Like roots intertwined beneath the ground, donors, recipients and families are forever linked. One decision can grow into something far greater than we can imagine, spreading healing across communities and generations.
More than 100,000 people nationwide are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Each registration has the potential to change that.
At South Texas Blood & Tissue, the message is simple but urgent: register, learn and share. Whether through organ, eye or tissue donation, every individual has the power to leave a legacy.
Brenda carries her brother’s words with her every day:
“If I can, why wouldn’t I?”
It’s a question and a challenge. Alan’s family has registered as donors, continuing Alan’s legal act of compassion, generosity, and love.
Because in the end, tissue donation is not just about loss. It is about what continues to live on.
This Donate Life Month story is a reminder that one decision can impact countless lives. Learn more or register your decision to become a donor at DonateLifeTexas.org.