Always joking and smiling, David Rodriguez, Jr. was a loving, caring person who thought of others before himself. David was a big football fan and especially liked watching the 49ers. He collected baseball and football cards, played video games, loved music and Adam Sandler movies, and enjoyed being with his friends and family.
On Sept. 27, 2002, at the age of 21, David sustained a gunshot to his head. His sister Arlene remembers: “At the hospital, the doctor said, ‘I’m so sorry but David is brain dead and there is nothing we can do for him.’ We all started crying and could not believe what we were being told. As a family, we decided to donate his organs. We didn’t know until later that David had the pink donor dot on his license.”
David donated his heart, kidney, lungs, liver, pancreas and tissue. His family has heard from one of the recipients who received David’s gift of life.
The Rodriguez family has since become involved with the Donate Life Ambassador program. “We have become active volunteers and use David’s story to inspire others to donate,” said Arlene. “Our mom also tells people that you don’t have to die to be a donor, you never know when a family member will need a transplant. We are all proud to be part of the Donate Life Ambassadors family.”
I DO LOVE AND MISS MY BROTHER DAVID BUT I KNOW HE SAVED MANY LIFE,S HOPE ONE DAY I GET TO MEET THEM SOME DAY :)ARLENE RRODRIGUEZ ONE OF DAVID,S SISTER
ReplyDeleteI received a miracle on October 1, 2002...I have been looking for my donor family for 10 years. I wonder if it is David...Bless you all...you and David made many miracles happen..I am forever grateful to you and all donor families!!
DeleteArlene im davids sister arlene omg its been 3 year s I was so excited when I seen your post we've been looking to meet any one that my brother gave the gift of life to im hoping that you're one of them and yes of course I wish we can meet if you are one that my brother David gave the gift of life.... please let me know thank you so much David sister
DeleteLove you and miss you cousin :'( <3 Misty
ReplyDeleteI Remember The Day That The Nurse Came To Us & Asked My Sister If She Wanted David To Be a Donor.....Everyone Looked Shocked,But As I Watched My Sister's Face,I Saw Something.....So I Whispered & Asked her.("Do You Want To Do It"?)..She Nodded With So Much Certainty..And I Told Her "Then Do It"!And As We Knew It Was Being Done,We Knew It Was The Right Thing To Do!!...It Has Givin Me Gratification Just Knowing That Through Him So Many People Were Helped........I LOVE YOU DAVID...ALWAYS IN MY HEART,ALWAYS IN MY MIND.<3
ReplyDeleteThey day this all happened was the saddest day not only for us but for rosemary and david we could never no what they feel, and all these years they been doing the donate life my sister was going though it alone with out her brother and sister there for them im sorry sis. The first time i was a guest it change me i met people they told me there story and i heard story i cryed and i laugh i help them do the flote it was so nice knowing how its done and now im a part of it, i don't care were im at i tell people are you a donor if they tell me no i tell them you should couse you could say lifes and we don't know it could be a family member.LOVE YOU SIS AND ALL YOU GIRLS CHA-CHA 1/20/2012
ReplyDeleteONE DAY I WENT TO MY MOM AND DAD,S AND ME AND LORI AND VAL AND DAVID WERE IN THE KITCHEN WE ALL WERE JUST MISSING AROUND AND DAVID WAS MAKING NOODLES SO IM LOOKING AT HIM AND HE TOOK OUT ALL THE JUICE FROM THE NOODLES HE GOT THE MAYONNAISE OUT AND PUT SOME IN THE NOODLES I WAS LIKE EWW THAT,S NASTY AND DAVID IS SAYING SIS IT,S THE BOMB YOUR GOING TO LIKE IT AND I WAS LIKE KNOW SO HE GOT THE TAPATIO AND PUT SOME IN IT DAVID WAS TELLING ME TO TASTE IT I SAID KNOW HE WAS CHASING ME ALL AROUND THE HOUSE TO MAKE ME EAT SOME AND TiLL THIS day i make the same thing just like david did i call it the david special :)bug
ReplyDeleteONE DAY I WENT TO MY MOM AND DAD,S AND ME AND LORI AND VAL AND DAVID WERE IN THE KITCHEN WE ALL WERE JUST MISSING AROUND AND DAVID WAS MAKING NOODLES SO IM LOOKING AT HIM AND HE TOOK OUT ALL THE JUICE FROM THE NOODLES HE GOT THE MAYONNAISE OUT AND PUT SOME IN THE NOODLES I WAS LIKE EWW THAT,S NASTY AND DAVID IS SAYING SIS IT,S THE BOMB YOUR GOING TO LIKE IT AND I WAS LIKE KNOW SO HE GOT THE TAPATIO AND PUT SOME IN IT DAVID WAS TELLING ME TO TASTE IT I SAID KNOW HE WAS CHASING ME ALL AROUND THE HOUSE TO MAKE ME EAT SOME AND TiLL THIS day i make the same thing just like david did i call it the david special :)bug
ReplyDeleteJanuary 20, 2012 11:31 AM
ONE DAY I WENT TO MY MOM AND DAD,S AND ME AND LORI AND VAL AND DAVID WERE IN THE KITCHEN WE ALL WERE JUST MISSING AROUND AND DAVID WAS MAKING NOODLES SO IM LOOKING AT HIM AND HE TOOK OUT ALL THE JUICE FROM THE NOODLES HE GOT THE MAYONNAISE OUT AND PUT SOME IN THE NOODLES I WAS LIKE EWW THAT,S NASTY AND DAVID IS SAYING SIS IT,S THE BOMB YOUR GOING TO LIKE IT AND I WAS LIKE KNOW SO HE GOT THE TAPATIO AND PUT SOME IN IT DAVID WAS TELLING ME TO TASTE IT I SAID KNOW HE WAS CHASING ME ALL AROUND THE HOUSE TO MAKE ME EAT SOME AND TiLL THIS DAY I MAKE THE SAME THING JUST LIKE DAVID DID I CALL IT THE DAVID SPECIAL :)BUG
ReplyDeleteOK Y DID MY POST COME OUT 3 TIME,S STOP IT DAVID LOL :)
DeleteI Can Remember it like it was yesterday He called me and told me he was having a party at the house and it all was going down like it always did with him i told him i needed a ride he told me try to get you a ride ill call you back. that was the last i herd his voice... it's going to be more then 10 years since i seen him. I miss You Unc i know your with me every day .
ReplyDeleteKATHY ZALDIVAR JAN 22,2012 @ 1:08 OK DAVID,I DO NOT KNOW U.ALL I KNOW IS THAT U R IN A BETTER PLACE.AND 1 DAY I WILL MEET U,AND GET 2 KNOW U,TILL THEN (MY U REST IN PEACE).
ReplyDeleteI miss those late evenings we spend playing basketball at your parents house w/ your uncle Rog..even though i only knew you for a short period of time..the memories you left me with, will last a life time.I thank god for giving me the gift of knowing you David..... you are greatly miss and i know you're in a better place....Even though you're no longer with us..i know you're close by..just by seeing the love of your family and how much they care for one another...I see you in your brother Anthony = )LUV YAH ALWAYS...Your Auntie..Patty
ReplyDeleteTO MY BRO DAVID I will never forget that day,
ReplyDeleteThe day God decided to take you away.I had just seen you that night,
And I remember you always had a way to make me smile. He took a few steps my way, And it really brightened up my day.
You left to go ride with your friend,
Only to never come back home again.
somthing went wrong and came to get Mom,
"it's really bad" and they hurried on.
I drove my truck down there, At first, I couldn't see you anywhere.
When I got to the hospital The next thing I saw was you on the bed You weren't moving, not making a sound.I thought you were going to be okay,
I never knew that the last time I would see you alive had been earlier that day.
I got up the strength and courage to go back to that room,
But what I saw on the bed was cold, still, lifeless...not you!
I was in a maze, in a dream,
Nothing was real to me it seemed.love you david yor sis bug
ill never 4get dat morning whn I wuz on my way 2 school & I wuz told wut happened...I broke dwn in tears...I couldn't compose myself...he use 2 always wlkin past my house late @ nite...& da times dat I wild see him...he wild always stop @ sit & tlk wit me...he wuld always gve me advice about my problems...I always looked up 2 him like a big brother...& I didn't wnt 2 believe dat wut I wuz told wuz true...I jus seen him a couple nite b4 dat nite...I had jus sat & tlkd wit him...& whn I made it 2 da hospital...& had 2 say my last gud byes...it wuz so hard...I wntd 2 jus see him sit up & say he wuz Ok...ill always remember dat great times we had & da great Tlkd we had...ill Neva 4get my big bro David...& I know he's always looking dwn @ all of us & he's always rite there wit us...& I'm so happy 2 know dat he wuz able 2 help sum1 else keep living on...he is a true angel 2 me...& I love & miss him dearly...& I wanna snd all MT live & support 2 his family as well...luv & miss u guys alot......Brittany M.
ReplyDeletethank you :)
DeleteMy Tio David Was A Special Person To Me He Was A Man That Can Joke Around And Play With Others. He Always Thought About Others Before Himself He Help Others In Need If He Can. When I Found Out My Tio David Past I Was Shocked I Was Crying, I Wish He Was Here To Watch Me Grow, But I No Hes Here Watching Over Me, Protecting Me. Soon To Be An Ambassador For Donate Life To Carry On Your Legacy. I LOVE YOU AND I MISS YOU TIO DAVID (*REST IN PARADISE*)
ReplyDeleteMy Tio David Was A Special Person To Me He Was A Man That Can Joke Around And Play With Others. He Always Thought About Others Before Himself He Help Others In Need If He Can. When I Found Out My Tio David Past I Was Shocked I Was Crying, I Wish He Was Here To Watch Me Grow, But I No Hes Here Watching Over Me, Protecting Me. Soon To Be An Ambassador For Donate Life To Carry On Your Legacy. I LOVE YOU AND I MISS YOU TIO DAVID (*REST IN PARADISE*) Your Niece Veronica<3
ReplyDelete