A young boy has become a hero to three other families on Thanksgiving day thanks to organ donation. However, those families never got to meet the 9-year-old who saved their loved ones’ lives.
Colton Williams was a fourth-grader from South Carolina when he was accidentally shot and killed by his father while on a hunting trip together, People reports. Williams died Thursday morning and his family made the decision to donate his organs in order to save others.
In a Facebook post shared by his maternal grandfather, Vince Furtick, the grandfather revealed Williams’ kidneys and liver were donated to those who desperately needed them. He said:
“I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have prayed, visited, brought meals, made donations, or helped in any way during this trying time when Beverly and I lost our only grandson. I saw many of our friends from all over the south today at the funeral in support of our families.
God has Colton in his arms now and we truly miss him but rest in the knowledge that we will see him again one day. Life goes on and in Colton’s case, three lives were saved by his donated kidneys and liver. He was the brightest light in our lives and he will be missed greatly. Again, thank you.”
The GoFundMe that has been set up to help the family with medical and funeral expenses described Williams as a “beautiful” and “talented” boy who “absolutely loved the outdoors.”
The 9-year-old also adored sports and playing the piano, according to his obituary. The account also called Williams’s parents “two of the best people.”
And now that the fundraiser has surpassed what the family needed, all of the extra proceeds are being donated in order to keep the 9-year-old’s memory alive. Furtick added in a separate Facebook post:
“Now, all donations in excess of those expenses will go to the SCDNR Take One Make One program. This program is set up to allow underprivileged children to experience the outdoors. Colton would have loved this idea.”
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According to the PA Game Commission, hunting-related deaths have drastically decreased from 1980 to 2018. “The marked decline of HRSIs can be attributed to the success of hunter education training and the use of fluorescent orange clothing.” However, still, more than 25 people were the victims of shooting incidents while hunting.
Williams was laid to rest on December 1.
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