Michael Weadock was a loving, tender, and caring soul mate to his wife Linda. He also had a special talent making people laugh with a dry, hilarious sense of humor. Mike served his country proudly in the Army's "Proud Americans" and as an honor guard. He was deployed to Vietnam in 1967 and always spoke with pride about his military service. Shortly after retiring and building their dream house, Mike suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. As a registered donor, he gave life to two people. Linda now actively supports donor awareness and shares Mike's story whenever she can.

Michael's Story

Michael Weadock was a loving husband and charming, tender and caring man. He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and marksman. His wife Linda called him her soul mate; the two had great times together.

"Mike was one of the funniest people you would ever want to meet," Linda said. "He had a special talent for making people laugh and had such a dry, hilarious, sense of humor. He could tell stories that would have you in stitches, and he loved to play practical jokes."

Mike served his country proudly in the Army's "Proud Americans" 6th Howitzer Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Unit. He served as an honor guard while stationed at Ft. Lewis, WA. Mike was deployed to Vietnam in 1967, and returned a year later. He always spoke with pride about his military service.

Mike took early retirement and they moved to Hot Springs, AR in May 2005. Mike became a general contractor and built the dream house they designed on their beautiful mountain just outside of town. Mike and Linda moved in the end of May 2006, with great plans of spending time with his son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.

On March 24, 2008, everything changed when Mike suffered a evere hemorrhagic stroke. The shock was overwhelming for Linda.

"I was allowed to see him as often as I wanted, and his family and friends were given the time to visit, too,"she recalled. "That 24-hour period was so precious to me. Not only did I have the time to hold him and be with him, but it also gave me time to accept his death and come to terms with what had happened." 

Early on the morning of March 26, 2008, Mike was taken to surgery and the donation process began. He was 64.

"We don't get to choose when we die, but we do get to choose whether we can help someone when it happens," Linda said. "Knowing that Mike had made a decision to be a registered donor and saved two people's lives by donating each one a kidney is a comfort to me. A part of him lives on, and I am so proud of him. He didn't die in vain. He gave the gift of life!"

Shortly after Mike's death, Linda began volunteering by telling his story and raising donation awareness. She serves on ARORA's Advisory Council, is secretary of the Arkansas Donor Family Council and just returned from her third Transplant Games. Last year, she had the honor and privilege to help decorate the Donate Life Float and place roses in Mike's memory in the Dedication Garden.