Benny lived life at full speed.
He was a ball of energy—always moving, laughing, entertaining the people around him. He could go all day, leaving behind a trail of smiles and laughter. Benny had a presence you couldn’t miss: a bright smile that could light up a room, a contagious laugh that often left him laughing until he cried and a charm that came naturally, sparkling in his eyes.
Benny loved being active. Sports were a constant in his life—basketball, lacrosse, football, hockey, and just about anything that kept him moving. He would spend hours outside shooting baskets, so many that his family installed a large light over the hoop so he could keep playing long after the sun went down. He also was very active on local teams including playing basketball for Peoria Christian High School and local lacrosse clubs.
Fearless and strong-willed, Benny gave everything 110 percent when he cared about something. Creativity was another outlet for his boundless energy. Benny loved making beats and music, dancing and dreaming about the future. He was fascinated by airplanes and had two tracks planned for his life – becoming a pilot or finding a life connected to music. He had a strong sense of style, loved shoes and enjoyed visiting Chicago whenever he could, especially taking in the skyline that inspired him.
Above all, Benny was a protector and a big-hearted brother. He adored his younger sister, Ella, watching over her with pride and love. His family remembers how deeply he cared, how fiercely he lived and how fully he embraced the people and passions that mattered most to him.
Organ donation was something Benny’s family had talked about long before they ever imagined needing to make that decision. Having learned about the importance of donation through personal experiences and stories that touched their hearts, they understood the power of saying yes. When they learned that 18-year-old Benny would not survive, they approached his medical team themselves, knowing without hesitation that Benny would want to help others if he could.
In the midst of their devastating loss, donation brought a small sense of peace to the family while their faith guided them and offered strength and purpose during one of the darkest moments of their lives. Knowing that something good could come from such heartbreak helped give them a sense of peace.
Through organ donation, Benny saved three lives. A woman in her 40s in Ohio received his liver. A man in his 30s in Illinois received his right kidney. A man in his 60s in Illinois received his left kidney. Though his family has not yet met the recipients, they think of them often and pray that they are healing, thriving, and living full lives because of Benny’s generosity.
Today, Benny’s legacy lives on in quiet and meaningful ways. His family wears bracelets in his honor, shares his story, and continues to raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation. They keep Benny close by incorporating him into everyday life—doing the things he loved, eating the foods he enjoyed and celebrating him on birthdays and special moments.
Benny’s family wants others to understand just how great the need for donation truly is and how many lives (eight for organs, up to 75 for tissue) can be changed by one decision. They hope people know that donation does not interfere with care, that it costs nothing to be a donor and that tissue donation can also enhance lives in meaningful ways.
Benny lived boldly, laughed freely, and loved deeply. Through his gift, his energy continues to move forward to save lives, inspire hope and remind us all that even in loss, light can still shine.
