Daniel Matthew Rios

Type of Donation:       Organ - heart, kidneys, liver, and pancreas

Age and Location:      21 months – Victorville, CA

Date of Donation:           09/29/2016

Sponsor:                      Honored by OneLegacy

DANIEL’S STORY

Daniel Matthew Rios was a very happy, intelligent, and curious little guy. He loved to eat Lucky Charms and tangerines (Cuties). He also loved to listen to music and dance... he had some pretty good moves. One of his favorite things to do was hang out with his big brothers and do whatever they did. He also loved to take pictures and smile for the camera while saying...cheeeeeese.

When Daniel's family lost him, they made the difficult but generous decision to say "YES" to organ donation. Thanks to his generous gifts, a little girl in Washington received his liver and pancreas, giving her a second chance at life. He also saved three others: an older man from California who received his right kidney and no longer needs dialysis; a California man with three boys who received his left kidney and is also free from dialysis; and a young girl from California who received his heart.

His family feels very fortunate to have met Daniel's heart recipient and her family, and to have formed a close, family-like bond with them. They attend the Donate Life Run/Walk with Daniel's family every year, and they also visit her to celebrate her birthday every year. It is such a blessing to feel Daniel's strong heartbeat every time they see her and see how well she's doing. She is growing into an amazing little girl who is living her best life.

Because of this they like to call Daniel, "Our Hero!" He has made life possible for four special people and their loved ones.

As much as Daniel loved to take pictures, his family is sure he would have loved to see a floragraph of himself on the 2026 OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade Float, surrounded by music and laughter all around.