Denton was 17, 6 4 ½, size 15 shoe and still growing. He was a senior, student body president, in National Honor Society, president of DECA, recorder for FBLA, in show choir, in the musical, on the golf team, basketball team and a junior facilitator for MO Leadership Seminar. At school he had earned the name Mr. C since he was not able to play football due to four knee surgeries; he would paint his upper body red with a big white C on his chest and cheer at games. He had already been accepted to Northwest MO State University, where he had received an invitation to try out for their show choir, he was working on his time on a two mile run as he wanted to try out for their cross-country team, he had already received a scholarship and had decided on the degree that the wanted to pursue. When we made the decision for Denton to be a donor we did it as a way to represent Denton’s positive attitude and love for those around him, as his friends would say that he always put others first, and as a way to turn this tragic event into something positive – the fact that Denton was able to be an organ donor and save three lives. We try to do positive things to honor Denton – and to spread the word about organ donation through works.

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I want to close by sharing a phrase that was important to Denton and a reflection of how he lived his life:

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Do what makes you happy
Be with who makes you smile
Laugh as much as you breathe
And love as long as you live.