This past Saturday, Gift of Life was able to provide a Threads of Love Memorial Quilt with donors from the Lehigh Valley at an event. The event was in honor of Tylor Holmes, a hero and tissue donor. His mother, Diane was able to see her son’s quilt on display and talk about his legacy.
Tylor Holmes was known for his big brown eyes and motorcycle that he named “Rosa Parks.” He lives on through dozens of people helped by tissue donation when Tylor, age 22, took his life five years ago.
His mom, Diane Holmes, started the T. Holmes Foundation to help prevent suicide and share Tylor’s legacy as a donor.
“One of our biggest goals is to spread awareness and education in different cultures,” she said. “Tylor’s gift of being a donor is what comforts our pain because we know he lives on.”
Diane says that National Minority Donor Awareness Week reminds us that “all lives matter and being a donor is such a precious and generous gift. It doesn’t surrender to color, to cultural differences, or financial means.”
National Minority Donor Awareness Week is held annually from August 1-7 and is designated to increase awareness of the need for more organ, eye, and tissue donors, especially in minority communities. Currently, more than half of the national waiting list (58%) is represented by people of minority communities. Register to save lives as an organ and tissue donor today.
To learn more about the T. Holmes Foundation, visit www.tholmesfoundation.com