Dear Claude,
Thank you for your recent letter – we appreciate you taking the time to acknowledge Richard’s generous gift as an organ donor. We hope this letter finds you recovering well and enjoying life once again.
It gives us strength knowing his heart continues to beat and is providing you with the joy of being a father. There is no greater gift than the Gift of Life. Richard will never give life to his own children, however, knowing he has given life to many through his organ, cornea, and tissue donations carries us through our grief.
Ricky was a fun loving guy who loved being with his friends, playing his guitars and video games. He was a night owl and could stay up all night playing World of War Craft online. He loved being in the Army National Guard where he found his second home and family. He was dedicated to making this country a safe and better place to live. He always wanted to help those in need.
We are grateful for the 22 years Richard blessed our lives – he was a loving son and brother. He had a good heart and a smile that could light up any room. We’ve learned so much and have been told many heartwarming stories about our son that we never knew before. He was so giving and a friend to all – he loved living life and hanging out with his friends whenever he could.
We miss him so very much every day but celebrate his final gift of himself. We know gold needed a loving soldier in heaven and called him home.
We shared a part of our son with you. In return we ask that you take advantage of every opportunity to raise awareness for organ, tissue, and cornea donation to ensure Richard’s legacy lives on.
God’s Peace and Love,
Rick and Debbie Wieland
