Edward Mason

Cornea and tissue donor

Donated on 07/20/2011

Honored by OneLegacy

Edward Mason was an amazing young man. Everyone that knew him, loved him; he was selfless and helpful. He loved sports, fishing and riding horses. He had the best sense of humor and was always making his family laugh. When Eddie was 18, he had a seizure and was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease. He started taking anti-seizure medication, but still had seizures from time to time. When he was 35, Eddie’s health deteriorated and he was placed on the waiting list for a kidney. His mom was tested to donate her kidney, and she was a match. Surgery was set for July 20, 2011, but on June 30, 2011, Eddie suffered a seizure and he didn’t recover. His gift of tissue, bone and corneas helped heal 40 people.

Edward’s Story

Eddie Mason was an amazing young man. Everyone that knew him, loved him; he would help anyone at the drop of a hat. He helped his elderly neighbors with anything they needed, from getting coolers ready for the summer heat, to building a new gate and bringing them food.

Eddie was such a joy to be around; he loved sports, fishing and riding horses. He had the best sense of humor and was always making his family laugh. Eddie enjoyed life to the fullest each day.
When Eddie was 18, he had a grand mal seizure and after many tests over a couple of months, they found he had a kidney disease called IGA Nephropathy. The doctors said that within 15 to 20 years, his kidneys would fail. He was started on anti-seizure medication but still had seizures from time to time.
Eddie worked full time at a credit union in Ridgecrest, California and was also raising his little girl, who was 9 years old. At age 35, Eddie started to feel unwell and his blood pressure was high. He went to the doctor and blood tests showed he was in kidney failure. Eddie was put on peritoneal dialysis so he could still make it to his doctor appointments and continue to work full time.

He was placed on the waiting list at St. Joseph’s in Orange to receive a kidney transplant, but when his family was told that the wait could be 7 years or longer, Eddie’s mother, Cyndi, decided to get tested to see if she would be a match.

The day Cyndi got the call that she was a match, she jumped for joy. Over the next year, Eddie and Cyndi went through all of the testing and a surgery date was set for July 20, 2011. After the last pre-op appointment on June 28, 2011, the family hugged and kissed goodbye and Eddie headed home to Ridgecrest and back to work. He drove 200 miles each way for his appointments and still continued to work full time thanks to the management of the credit union.

On June 30, 2011, Cyndi received a call that Eddie had not come to work. Eddie had suffered a seizure and by the time he was transported to the hospital, he had gone into cardiac arrest and was unable to be revived. Cyndi and Michael lost their amazing son that day.

Eddie was a registered donor and his family knew his wishes. Cyndi says, “Eddie would be so pleased to know that he was able to donate tissue, bone and corneas and that he has helped over 40 people. I can just imagine Eddie with a big smile on face, looking down and seeing his face on the Donate Life Float.”