For two students of Grace School District, an early end to their lives means a chance to live for others.
Students in the district are mourning the loss of two of their classmates, who were both killed during the same week in early March.
Fifteen-year-old Peyton Rindlisbaker died from injuries he sustained in a motorcycle accident near Bancroft, and Humberto Villa-Gomez, 11, passed away two days later after being involved in a car crash at Harwood and 2-Mile roads in Caribou County.
The families of both boys created a legacy that could impact the lives of more than a dozen people when they made the decision to donate their organs.
Alex McDonald of Intermountain Donor Services in Salt Lake City said each donation has the potential to benefit nine separate individuals waiting for organ transplants.
In fact, Humberto’s uncle received a kidney from his selfless gift.
McDonald said hospitals are required by law to notify the donor center if a death is imminent and organs might be available. IDS then reviews the patient’s medical records to determine if organ
donation is an option before contacting the family.
“We don’t want to put the family through more than they are already going through,” McDonald said. “We are not in a hurry, and we give them time to process everything.”
McDonald said many parents report that their decision to donate was based on their desire to keep other parents from experiencing the gut-wrenching loss of a child.
Peyton was transported by LifeFlight to Portneuf Medical Center following the accident March 10, and he died the following day.
His parents are Blair and Stephanie Rindlisbaker. The family lives halfway between Bancroft and Grace, and Peyton was in his first year at Grace High School.
Stephanie said when the donor center contacted the family about donating Peyton’s organs, they didn’t have to think about it.
“I’m an organ donor and so is my husband,” Stephanie said. “We were glad that was an option.”
Once the family is onboard, McDonald said a surgical team travels to the location, and the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and small intestine are removed and packed for transport.
Peyton’s grandfather, Hal Jones of Pocatello, said he was touched and impressed by the care provided to his grandson by both the critical care team at PMC and the donor team from IDS.
“There must have been 30 or more doctors, nurses, technicians and support people in that ER treatment room at one time, trying to keep (Peyton’s) heart beating,” Jones said. “The professionalism, care and concern they demonstrated was overwhelming to us all. As they all performed their jobs, many with tears in their eyes, it was apparent that it was more than just an occupation to them.”
Jones said members of the medical team at PMC even attended funeral services for Peyton.
PMC Critical Care Director Amy Hemsley said the team is comprised of about 100 doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, lab specialists and administrators, and she said that PMC is not involved in the organ donation process but focuses on treating the patient.
“Initially, our goal is always saving the life of the patient,” Hemsley said. “But we try to meet the needs of the family as well.”
Because the team treats critical patients, the prognosis is not always positive, and each death impacts critical care workers.
“We grieve right along with the family for every newborn, elderly person and, in this case, young man that we care for,” Hemsley said. “But most people don’t see that, and I’m sure there were a lot of tears shed for Peyton.”
Hemsley said nurses and doctors often attend funerals as a way to bring closure to the tragic event.
“Sometimes you meet a family that just touches you,” Hemsley said.
Struggling to hold back tears, Stephanie described Peyton, the oldest of three children, as an active, friendly, outdoorsy kid.
“He was just a good kid. He was a good big brother, he loved sports and he loved to ride his motorcycle,” Stephanie said.
Peyton was also looking forward to serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he graduated from high school, and while he never got that opportunity, an online fundraising site created as a tribute to Peyton will help fund other future missionaries. As of Thursday, Peyton’s Mission had raised $5,785 toward that goal.
“We wanted to do something and this is something that would make Peyton happy,” Stephanie said. “He had talked about going on his mission since he was a little boy.”
To donate to the fund, go to www.gofundme.com/otcwxc. Stephanie said her faith and all the support her family has received from the rural communities of Bancroft and Grace are helping them to cope with the loss.
“We are trying to get back to normal, but that’s so hard because Peyton isn’t here,” Stephanie said. “But at the same time we feel blessed and know that our Heavenly Father loved Peyton and that we will be together as a family again.”
Humberto was a fourth grader at Grace Elementary School. His parents are Alfonso and Vianey Villa-Gomez. His father, who was driving when the crash occurred, and Humberto’s twin brother, Alfonso Junior, were both transported to Caribou Memorial Hospital where they were treated and later released. Humberto was flown to Primary Children’s Hospital in Utah, and he died from his injuries two days later.
Alfonso is employed by Jim Hubbard Farms, and he returned to work earlier this week. Alfonso Jr.is also back in class at Grace Elementary.
Students in the rural school district memorialized their classmates by writing messages to the families, sending up dozens of balloons filled with flower seeds and planting trees. Grace superintendent Jamie Holyoak said local clergy and school counselors are available for students who needed to talk about the sudden loss of their classmates.
“We asked the students to remember Humberto’s kindness and extend that kindness to Alfonso when he returned to school,” Holyoak said earlier this month.
Classmates took that advice to heart and this week at Grace Elementary and presented Alfonso with a handmade card and a gift basket filled with goodies, a soccer ball and new wrestling boots.
Brian Hall teaches fourth grade at Grace Elementary, and he said students have reached out to Alfonso Jr. and his family.
“The kids have just loved him and have been so kind and wonderful,” Hall said. “We only have 100 kids in grades K-5 and most of them have grown up together.”
Hall took Alfonso fishing on the Bear River on Wednesday after school. They reportedly landed one walleye and a carp. Afterward, Hall had dinner with the Villa-Gomez family, who are staying with relatives in Preston following the accident that claimed the life of their son.
The Villa-Gomez family moved to Caribou County from Boise nine years ago and Humberto and Alfonso have also grown up in rural Caribou County.
“They are just a very gracious, good family,” Hall said. “It’s difficult and they’re still healing but they’re doing all right.”