Alan Berumen was the kind of person you felt before you even met him. Full of life. Loud in the best way, quick to laughter. A toothy smile. Always ready to turn an ordinary moment into a celebration. He was lead singer in a local tamborazo band. Alan loved performing, but those closest to him say his presence offstage was just as powerful.
“He was just really happy… really fun,” his older sister Brenda shared. “He was the one who made everything a big deal, in a good way,” she laughed. “Birthdays weren’t just a day; they were a month.”
At just 27 years old, Alan had already built a life rooted in music, family and connection.
But what defined Alan most wasn’t just his energy. It was his generosity. “‘If I can help somebody, I will,’” Brenda recalled her brother saying. “Even if he didn’t have much, he would still give.” That belief never wavered, even at the end of his life.
An adamant choice
After a tragic car accident, Alan was left with locked-in syndrome. His mind remained fully aware, but he could no longer speak or move. Through blinks and simple communication, he was still able to respond and make decisions. And when it came time to honor his choice to be a donor, Alan was clear.
“He was always very adamant about it,” Brenda said. “He would say, ‘I’m not going to be using them [organs]. I’d rather give someone else the opportunity.’” Even in those last moments, Alan’s focus was on others.
When the opportunity arose to wait one more day, giving time to confirm additional matches that could help more people, his family asked if he was willing. Alan said yes, ultimately becoming an organ and tissue donor. That decision, made under unimaginable circumstances, reflected exactly who Alan was at his core: a generous, loving soul.
“I think he would have been really happy,” Brenda said, her voice breaking as she reflected on those last moments. “Happy to know he helped another family, that he gave other people the chance to keep living.”
Comfort in compassion
For her family, Alan’s loss has been profound. Alan was their only son, a brother, a presence that can never be replaced. Holidays feel quieter now. The energy he once brought into every room is deeply missed.
But within that grief, there is also comfort. In that way, Alan’s story did not end. It continued. “He helped another family not feel what we are feeling,” Brenda said.
Through tissue donation, Alan gave others a second chance: healing, relief and more time with the people they love. And for his family, that knowledge brings meaning amid loss.
Alan will be remembered for many things—his music, his laughter, his unforgettable presence. But above all, as someone who even in his last moments, chose to give selflessly.
