Scott Hultman
Type of Donation: Heart, Liver, Kidneys
Age and Location: 43, Camarillo, CA
Donation Date: November 23, 2020
Sponsor: OneLegacy
SCOTT’S STORY
From Paula Hultman:
Scott Hultman had a tender, playful heart. And an ever-present, larger than life smile. My devoted son. A protective big brother to his sister Alison. A loyal lifelong friend to everyone who knew him, and a True Blue LA Dodgers fan! But his most cherished role was that of a dedicated father to his young son Ryder. After the sudden death of my husband, Scott's dad George, his compassionate heart helped mend my broken one. Scott became my protector, my rock, and made sure I was always taken care of.
In November 2020, I faced every mother's nightmare. Yet in seven words from his medical team, one glimmer of hope flickered in my broken heart. "Your son is a registered organ donor." With that little Pink Dot on his driver's license, Scott's legacy would be his final heroic gift - the opportunity to save lives. His heart, kidneys and liver were successfully transplanted into four recipients who are all thriving. And his heart recipient is now a very dear friend!
Scott never met a stranger, especially in Camarillo, his lifelong hometown. Everywhere he went, the familiar "Hey Scotty!" rang out. His smile and laughter were his trademark. In his youth, baseball and basketball were his passion, along with his love of wakeboarding, snowboarding and any activity that let him enjoy the great outdoors. My Dodgers fan shared his love of baseball and his team with his dad and was looking forward to being his son's baseball coach one day.
A skilled tradesman, Scott's talents took the form of custom-built homes, and heating and air conditioning system design and installation. Scott never met a tool he didn't master. But Scott's true passion was photography and woodworking. He had a talent for capturing brilliant sunsets, stunning waterfalls and space spectacles like lunar eclipses and comets. When he wasn't building his own backyard skateboard half-pipe, he could be found in his workshop creating one of a kind artistic wood pieces. Today his photography and woodwork creations are his lasting legacy.
On Thanksgiving weekend, 2021, our prayers were answered when the recipient of Scott's heart replied to my letter of introduction. Since then, Jeff Newell has become a part of our family. Scott's heart is now beating in this wonderful man. And now 7-year-old Ryder is learning tennis from his new "friend" Jeff!
Scott's son Ryder talks about his dad with great pride. We have kept Scott alive for his sweet boy through stories and pictures. Last Christmas I wrote A Book About My Dad – a pictorial biography providing answers to the questions Ryder never had the chance to ask his dad. When eating ice cream recently, Ryder announced, "I love ice cream - just like my dad." And when we took Ryder to view the 2023 Donate Life Rose Parade float, he proudly told people nearby, "My dad was a heart donor!"
Scott's love of life, his love of kids and his playful attitude live on in his heart recipient Jeff. Thanks to Scott's heart, Jeff's sports academy, TennisKids, has been able to continue, and given at least 400 youths the thrill of sports through the game of tennis. With every child Jeff meets, he is giving them a little bit of my sweet "stardust son." Scott is still enjoying kids, sports, and the outdoors - and making a difference in the lives of others. I call Jeff my heart son, and I am at his heart mom.