Boy’s organs saved 4 lives
‘It’s what he would have wanted,’ mom of 6-year-old killed in crash with police car says
Four lives were saved earlier this year when the mother of a 6-year-old who died after a car crash donated his organs.
“It’s what he would have wanted. He’s so loving and such a giving child that he would have wanted that,” said Antoinette Suina, the mother of Joel Anthony Suina, at a news conference at New Mexico Donor Services on Monday, what would have been Anthony’s (as he was called by his mother) seventh birthday.
Suina, Anthony and Suina’s daughter, Ariana, had been in a crash in April with an Albuquerque Police Department cruiser at the intersection at Eubank and Indian School. Both children were critically injured.
Ariana underwent surgery and was later released from the hospital, but Anthony died after being taken off life support.
Next to Suina at the conference was a poster with pictures of Anthony and his nickname, “Super Bubbas,” written across the top. Alongside it sat a cluster of five superhero-themed balloons, including one of Batman, Anthony’s favorite superhero.
“We have Batman on the top, which represents ‘Super Bubbas,’ Joel Anthony,” said Maria Sanders, public education manager at New Mexico Donor Services. “And the four balloons underneath it are the four lives he was able to save through his gift of organ donation.”
Anthony’s right kidney, left kidney, liver and heart were donated to a 52-year-old man, 46-year-old woman, 4-monthold baby boy and 11-year-old boy, respectively. His pancreas and lungs were donated to an unspecified research and education organization.
For Suina, the fact that two children’s lives were saved was a particular comfort.
“Of course adults matter, too, but my son was a child, so my heart feels especially close to that,” she said.
Suina’s family and friends planned to honor Anthony on Monday by having a balloon release at 7 p.m., Suina said.
Suina also praised New Mexico Donor Services for its work and wanted to encourage the public to become organ donors. According to New Mexico Donor Services, thousands of individuals, including hundreds of New Mexicans, are currently on the national transplant waiting list. One individual donor can save eight other lives.
Individuals can register to become organ donors at a New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division office when obtaining or renewing a driver’s license or by visiting registerme.org.