2019 Andrew Colin Brockmeier

Name:                                     Andrew Colin Brockmeier

Type of Donation:             Tissue and cornea donor

Age and Location:             Age 21 – St. Louis, MO

Donation Date:                   7/23/2001

Sponsor:                                Honored by Mid-America Transplant

ANDREW’S STORY

Andrew was born in 1979 in St. Louis. He had three sisters. He was a typical little boy growing up, although he struggled with a learning disability his whole life.

He loved playing and watching football and he set the record for most rushing yards in a single game at his school.  He was an excellent wrestler as well. He also learned to play guitar and wrote music. His favorite Christmas present was the Gibson guitar I had played in a bluegrass band earlier in my life. He treasured it and kept it with him at all times in case a musical thought struck.

Despite his struggles with school, he got a job and was able to support himself in his own home. I was very proud of him for that. He even helped friends who needed support, either emotionally or financially. He was able to buy his pride and joy, a purple Z28 convertible. Unfortunately, in 2001 he suffered a fatal crash in that car, with the guitar in the trunk at the time. He was 11 days short of his 22nd birthday.

His mother and I decided to donate his tissue. The donation consisted of skin, bone and corneas. We later found out his corneas were transplanted to a recipient in Taiwan, so Andrew’s eyes are seeing places he never thought he would, along with providing the gift of sight to a complete stranger. But that’s Andrew, providing help to those that need it without concern for himself.