Deon Aiken

Organ Donor

2003 — 2004

In Loving Memory of
Deon Alexander Aiken
Feb. 18, 2003 - May 12, 2004

*Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. -Unknown

My best friend's nephew was born on February 18, 2003. He was named Deon Alexander Aiken. I was really close with the family, so I felt like he was my nephew too! Later that year I moved in with him, his mother Heather, and his big sister Cierra who was 4 at the time. When I was in school Heather was home with the kids and when I got home from school she went to work, so I watched the kids. They went everywhere with me.
When Deon turned one in 2004 we had him a Finding Nemo birthday party! We gave him a big piece of cake and of course he got it all over him. It was so funny to see all that icing all over his face and in his hair. Heather had a time trying to get it all off.
Those kids were everything to me! I would have died for them. They were my heart! I was there when he said his first word and when he took his first steps. I moved out shortly after his birthday, but I still saw them all the time.
On May 10, 2004 (the day after Mothers Day), Deon was admitted into the hospital. The babysitter said that he had fallen and went to sleep and wouldn't wake up. The doctors said that the trauma to his head was no accident. There was so much pressure around his brain that when they put a small tube inside, nothing would come out. They did a couple of brain tests but there was no activity. He failed every one. What we think happened was he may have gotten hurt and started crying and the babysitter couldn't stop him from crying so he got frustrated and shook him. They pronounced him on May 12, 2004 at 11:35am. He was only 14 months old (He was buried on May 18, the day he would have been 15 months.) They kept him on the ventilator until his father could get here from Iraq. He was in the Army and stationed there for a year. I got to hold him one last time. He was connected to all kinds of tubes keeping him alive. I sang to him the song I always sang to him. You Are My Sunshine. He wasn't there. His body was all that was left. His soul was already in Heaven with Jesus.
I remember when the doctors asked about him being an organ donor. I thought it was a good idea. Heather needed a little convincing. She didn't like the idea of someone else having part of her baby and I didn't blame her. She finally conceded to the donation. He donated 4 organs including his heart. It brings us alot of comfort to know that he saved 4 lives. He may not be on this earth, but he has impacted so many lives.
There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of him. I miss his smile, his laugh, and the way he used to run to me when he saw me and give me a big hug. There will always be a piece of my heart missing but I am comforted in knowing that there are other children out there that get to live because of his sacrifice. A part of him will always live on. Without God and the support of my family and friends, I don't know where I'd be today.
We are still waiting for the trial of the babysitter. He is being charged with involuntary manslaughter. We pray that justice will be served.

---Deon's Tarah

If you could see me now,
I'm walking streets of gold.
If you could see me now,
I'm standing tall and whole
If you could see me now
you'd know the pain's erased.
You'd never want me to ever leave
this perfect place
If you could only see me now.
- Truth

"Death of a Child"
Sorry I didn't get to stay.
To laugh and run and play.
To be there by your side.
I'm sorry that I had to die.
God sent me down to be with you,
to make your loving heart anew.
To help you look up and see
Both God and little me.

Mommy, I wish I could stay.
Just like I heard you pray.
But, all the angels did cry
when they told little me goodbye.

God didn't take me cause He's mad.
He didn't send me to make you sad.
But to give us both a chance to be
a love so precious .. don't you see?

Up here no trouble do I see
and the pretty angels sing to me.
The streets of gold is where I play
you'll come here too, mommy, someday.

Until the day you join me here,
I'll love you mommy, dear.
Each breeze you feel and see,
brings love and a kiss from me.
By Sandy Eakle