Four years ago, 16 people, including members of a Canadian junior hockey team, were killed when their bus and a tractor-trailer collided.
One of these players, Logan Boulet, went on to help save several lives through organ donation.
On Monday, her parents and sister visited UPMC Children’s Hospital to share their story.
Watch the full report in the video player above.
“I’m still incredibly sad that Logan isn’t here and that we lost him, but I know it’s a silver lining, it’s something that’s a ray of sunshine from such a tragedy that we know that he had an impact, that he made a difference,” said Logan’s mother, Bernadine Boulet.
Logan died when he was just 21. His parents said he was a young man with big dreams.
“He wanted to be an archaeologist or a hockey player, Indiana Jones or Sidney Crosby. Make your choice. That’s what he wanted to do,” said Toby Boulet, Logan’s father.
But a day after the accident, on April 7, 2018, Logan died. Before his death, Logan told his father that he wanted to be an organ donor because he had been inspired by his mentor and trainer who had died the year before.
“I looked at him and said it was fine, you’ll be 85 and no one will want your organs, and I laughed, and he didn’t laugh, and he looked at me and said, no dad, if Ric can donate his organs and save six lives, so can I,” said Toby Boulet.
And that’s exactly what Logan did.
“It took over social media, and it became the Logan effect, and then it became the Logan Boulet effect,” Toby Boulet said.
In the days following Logan’s death, more than 150,000 people signed up to become organ donors. This is the largest number in Canadian history due to a single event, and ultimately a single person.
Here in Pittsburgh, doctors at UPMC Children’s Hospital say Logan’s story is inspirational.
“What better way to honor this child’s wish and extend his legacy than to do what he really wanted to do during this difficult time,” said Dr. George Mazariegos, head of the pediatric transplant department at the hospital. .
“He made six lives fuller, heart, lungs, kidneys, kidneys, liver and two corneas…we say he made six lives fuller,” Toby Boulet said.
April is National Gift of Life Month. To register as an organ donor, register at registerme.org.
According to the Center for Organ Recovery & Education, nationwide more than 100,000 people are waiting for lifesaving organ transplants.
