Marc Henning was a loving and considerate son and a fun-loving brother. He was a humanitarian, handsome, generous and honest. As a senior at the U.S. Air Force Academy, he was active in Engineers Without Borders and loved to be close to the action as football team manager. On September 15, 2010, Marc ended his life. The next day, his parents, Linda and Van made the decision to donate Marc's organs and tissues. Ten months later, his mother Linda would receive an extraordinary gift: a graft for a dental procedure created from Marc's bone tissue. Marc was a hero to those who received life from his gifts, including his mother.

Marc's Story

Marc Henning was a loving and considerate son and a fun-loving brother. He was a humanitarian, handsome, generous and honest. Upon finishing high school in Illinois, he landed a spot at the Academy Preparatory School and then to the Cadet Wing.

BBy his senior year at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Marc had carved out his own niche. He was active in Engineers Without Borders and reveled in the chance to be close to the action at football games, where he served as head manager of the Falcon football team. He was developing into a genuinely liked and respected leader.

On September 15, 2010, Marc ended his life. As Linda and Van Henning, his parents, and his brothers Eric and Alex, surrounded Marc's hospital bed, they were unaware of the impact he would have on others just hours later. The next day, Linda and Van made the decision that Marc would be an organ and tissue donor.

In a packed chapel during Marc's funeral at the Air Force Academy, Linda remarked to a room full of Marc's peers and commanders, "As you know, Marc took his own life. We were concerned that he was overloading his plate and that he needed to recharge his batteries. Although Marc's life was short, for him it was wide."

Marc was a hero to those who received life from his gifts. Linda too received a gift. On July 22, 2011, ten months after Marc's death, she became the recipient of a bone graft that came from her son. Due to a special recovery that would enable the bone to be preserved and saved for an inevitable dental procedure, Linda's oral surgeon, Dr. Steven Rodgers and his staff in Newburgh, Ind. coordinated the bone graft for a tooth implant. Quinn Boland, a representative from NuVasive, a San Diego, Calif. company specializing in innovative spinal surgery, hand delivered the special graft to Dr. Rodgers' office for the implant procedure. During the grafting process, Linda's husband Van held her hand as tears streamed down their cheeks. "Marc again became a part of me," said Linda. Not only will she keep Marc's spirit alive in her heart; a piece of him will always live on within her.