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2015 FLORAGRAPH

 MIKE ERICKSON

Organ, Tissue and Cornea Donor
Age 28 ~ Dorchester, WI
Donated on 12/28/2012
at St. Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield

Sponsored by RTI Donor Services


Mike Erickson loved playing football and being outside. Before graduating high school, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and completed basic training, which he thought "would be tougher than that." On December 28, 2012, Mike tragically passed away at age 28. His mother, Dorothy Beckman, knew that "Mike would have wanted to help others one last time. That's why I made the decision to donate." One of Mike's tissue graft recipients was Colin Lepley, whose letter to Mike's parents expressed his deep gratitude. They had been praying that the recipients of Mike's organs, tissue and corneas were getting stronger and resuming normal lives. Colin's letter helped to answer that question in their minds. He will ride with his donor on this year's Donate Life Rose Parade float.


Mike's Story

As a boy, Mike Erickson played football and enjoyed the outdoors. Fishing, hunting, trail biking, canoeing, swimming, ice fishing - he loved them all. Mike was quick-witted with an exceptional sense of humor. His mother, Dorothy Beckman, described him as a computer geek who had talked about to going to school in the computer field.

Before graduation, Mike enlisted in the Marine Corps. He completed basic training in California where, in his off time, he enjoyed the ocean and beaches. Mike was very proud to be a Marine. When he came home from basic training, he said, "I thought it would be tougher than that."

On December 28, 2012, Mike tragically passed away at age 28. "I knew before I arrived at the hospital that if it were an option, Mike would have wanted to help others one last time," said Dorothy. "That's why I made the decision to donate."

Dorothy believes in the gift of life and has become an advocate for donation. She has shared the letters she has received from the recipients of Mike's gifts in an effort to demonstrate that "because of, or in spite of, our losses, many others will have the opportunity to have better lives. We can't do better than that."

One of the letter writers was Colin Lepley, a tissue graft recipient who expressed his deep sense of gratitude to Mike's parents for his gift. They had been hoping and praying that the recipients of Mike's organs, tissue and corneas were getting stronger and resuming normal lives. Receiving Colin's letter helped to answer that question in their minds. Colin will ride with his donor's image as one of the 30 riders on the 2015 Donate Life Rose Parade float.

"If you were wondering what kind of individual our son was, he was kind-hearted and quiet, and I know he would be very happy to know that part of him lives on in you," wrote Dorothy in a letter to Colin. "I hope his gift makes a positive difference in your life and that you go on to do all the things you dream."