Five-year-old Colton Deedrich was a giver.
“He was constantly taking things to his friends – bracelets, coins – anything he thought his friends would want,” his father, Andrew Deedrich, recalled.
When Colton had a seizure and tragically drowned in a bathtub just before Christmas 2025, his parents, even in their grief, didn’t hesitate when doctors at Carle Foundation Hospital asked about organ donation.
“If Colton had a choice, he would have done it,” said his mother, Erica Deedrich.
Colton Deedrich, though only 5 years old, donated four organs, giving four families their best Christmas present ever: the gift of life.
Erica and Andrew Deedrich, of Tolono, will share their son’s story during the National Donate Life Month Flag-Raising Ceremony and Memorial Walk at noon April 2 at Carle Foundation Hospital, where his organs were donated.
April is National Donate Life Month.
“We went through any parent’s worst nightmare,” Andrew Deedrich said. “But other parents had their best Christmas ever.”
The Deedrich family urges people to register to be organ donors and save lives.
Carle Health hosts three Donate Life Month ceremonies
Carle Health continues its partnership with Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network to host National Donate Life Month ceremonies that are open to the public:
All eight Carle Health hospitals work with Gift of Hope to facilitate organ and tissue donation with patients who have registered their intent to be organ and tissue donors and whose loved ones wish to save the lives of others following a death.
During 2025, Carle Foundation Hospital had 35 organ donors who saved 73 lives and 84 tissue donors who enhanced numerous lives. Tissue donated included bone, skin and corneas.
Among donors was Colton Deedrich, who died on Dec. 23. Even though he was only 5 years old, on Dec. 24:
At Carle Health Methodist during 2025, five organ donors saved 14 lives. In addition, at Carle Health Methodist, Carle Health Proctor and Carle Health Pekin, 31 tissue donors enhanced numerous lives.
At Carle Health BroMenn during 2025, five organ donors saved 16 lives, and 24 tissue donors saved numerous lives.
“During Donate Life Month, we are reminded that the most profound acts of care often come in life’s most difficult moments,” Rob Cavagnol, MD, president of Carle BroMenn and Carle Eureka Hospital, said. “Organ donation reflects the very heart of our mission at Carle Health, where compassion, excellence and community guide all that we do. It is a powerful expression of generosity that transforms loss into hope, offering patients and families a second chance at life and healing. As caregivers and leaders, we are honored to support this sacred gift, to educate and advocate and to stand alongside those who give and receive in this extraordinary way.”
Stories of Hope
Families touched by organ donation will offer Stories of Hope at each event:
The three flag-raising ceremonies are open to the public. Anyone wishing to register to be an organ donor should talk with their Carle Health care team about advanced care planning support and may visit the Gift of Hope website.
“He was constantly taking things to his friends – bracelets, coins – anything he thought his friends would want,” his father, Andrew Deedrich, recalled.
When Colton had a seizure and tragically drowned in a bathtub just before Christmas 2025, his parents, even in their grief, didn’t hesitate when doctors at Carle Foundation Hospital asked about organ donation.
“If Colton had a choice, he would have done it,” said his mother, Erica Deedrich.
Colton Deedrich, though only 5 years old, donated four organs, giving four families their best Christmas present ever: the gift of life.
Erica and Andrew Deedrich, of Tolono, will share their son’s story during the National Donate Life Month Flag-Raising Ceremony and Memorial Walk at noon April 2 at Carle Foundation Hospital, where his organs were donated.
April is National Donate Life Month.
“We went through any parent’s worst nightmare,” Andrew Deedrich said. “But other parents had their best Christmas ever.”
The Deedrich family urges people to register to be organ donors and save lives.
Carle Health hosts three Donate Life Month ceremonies
Carle Health continues its partnership with Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network to host National Donate Life Month ceremonies that are open to the public:
- Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana – April 2, Noon. The ceremony begins with the program at Pollard Auditorium in The Forum before concluding with a walk to the flagpole for the Gift of Hope flag-raising outside the hospital’s Heart and Vascular Institute entrance.
- Carle Health Methodist Hospital, Peoria – April 7, Noon. The ceremony begins with the program in the Morron Room before concluding with the Gift of Hope flag-raising outside the Carle Health Methodist main entrance.
- Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Normal – April 8, Noon. The ceremony begins with a program on the second floor of the hospital’s Atrium, followed by the Gift of Hope flag-raising outside the Atrium.
All eight Carle Health hospitals work with Gift of Hope to facilitate organ and tissue donation with patients who have registered their intent to be organ and tissue donors and whose loved ones wish to save the lives of others following a death.
During 2025, Carle Foundation Hospital had 35 organ donors who saved 73 lives and 84 tissue donors who enhanced numerous lives. Tissue donated included bone, skin and corneas.
Among donors was Colton Deedrich, who died on Dec. 23. Even though he was only 5 years old, on Dec. 24:
- His heart was gifted to a toddler.
- One kidney went to a woman in her 30s.
- The other kidney went to a man in his 30s.
- His liver went to a woman in her 60s.
At Carle Health Methodist during 2025, five organ donors saved 14 lives. In addition, at Carle Health Methodist, Carle Health Proctor and Carle Health Pekin, 31 tissue donors enhanced numerous lives.
At Carle Health BroMenn during 2025, five organ donors saved 16 lives, and 24 tissue donors saved numerous lives.
“During Donate Life Month, we are reminded that the most profound acts of care often come in life’s most difficult moments,” Rob Cavagnol, MD, president of Carle BroMenn and Carle Eureka Hospital, said. “Organ donation reflects the very heart of our mission at Carle Health, where compassion, excellence and community guide all that we do. It is a powerful expression of generosity that transforms loss into hope, offering patients and families a second chance at life and healing. As caregivers and leaders, we are honored to support this sacred gift, to educate and advocate and to stand alongside those who give and receive in this extraordinary way.”
Stories of Hope
Families touched by organ donation will offer Stories of Hope at each event:
- Erica and Andrew Deedrich will share the story of their son, Colton, at Carle Foundation Hospital.
- Jim Branson, of Philo, will talk at Carle Foundation Hospital about how a heart transplant was life-saving for him and life-changing for his family and the heart donor’s family.
- Katie Shelton, of St. Elmo, will talk at Carle Health Methodist Hospital about her son, Kendrick, who saved five lives and enhanced 63 other lives through organ and tissue transplantation following his tragic death at age 23.
- Etta Reed, of Hopedale, will talk about how she is back to saving lives as an EMT, serving clients as an insurance agent and supporting her family after a liver transplant saved her life.
The three flag-raising ceremonies are open to the public. Anyone wishing to register to be an organ donor should talk with their Carle Health care team about advanced care planning support and may visit the Gift of Hope website.
Categories: Community
Tags: BroMenn, CFH, donate, donation, gift, hope, life, Methodist, organ