Doctors had declared Connor Eckhardt brain-dead the day before, at age 19. Machines breathed for him in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach.
Veronica’s husband, Devin, held his son’s leg steady as she continued to apply a mixture of brown and blue, Connor’s favorite colors.
It was Thursday, July 17. Their son’s decision to donate his organs had allowed the couple extra time at his bedside. Tests needed to be run, organ recipients identified.
Earlier that day, Veronica thought of the footprints they made when Connor was little. She wanted to make another set, to commemorate his end. Her mother and father-in-law went to Michaels to buy the paint.
Read the full story: Before his organ donation, a final loving vigil for their son
Click here to learn more about organ donation
Unfortunately, Connor had decided to try “spice”, a form of synthetic marijuana. With just one puff he was sent into a coma from which he would never recover. But the Eckhardt family is not letting Connor’s story end here. Instead, they have dedicated themselves to spreading the word about the dangers of drugs such “spice” (or K2).
The Eckhardts used their last precious minutes with Connor, a California boy whose bronzed skin was a testament to his love of surfing and skateboarding, to do something incredibly brave.
They filmed a short video by Connor’s comatose side, about the dangers of synthetic marijuana.
‘This is our son, Connor Reid Eckhardt,’ Veronica said, her voice raw with emotion.
‘He made the deadly choice to use a product called K2, or spice, and Connor is completely brain-dead… This is not a game, it is totally real, please help us fight his fight.’Read the full story: Family shares heartbreaking photographs of son’s final moments
The most famous coroner on earth may well be Dr. Thomas Tsunetomi Noguchi, who was…
The day after Halloween, and the day after that, is Day of the Dead, and…
Following on his recent posts regarding deaths by extreme heat, Justin Nobel shares his thoughts…
Few parts of the country have been spared from July's soaring temperatures. In fact, July…
Deep inside a South African cave called Rising Star, scientists have made an incredible discovery—a…
Last week, in Nakano City, Japan, an evacuation center was opened in the gymnasium of…