I am compelled to share my heartbreaking experience to push for change.

My son Damon tragically died in a car accident while I was out of the country. By the time I made it home, I discovered his “anatomical gifts” were harvested without my consent – even though I was his mother and lifelong custodial parent.

Damon was not a registered donor. One “yes” over the phone from Damon’s estranged biological father was all it took for his heart tissue, skin, eyes, and ligaments to be removed without my knowledge or consent and before a complete autopsy could be performed. My son's body parts were then sent to for-profit tissue centers, and his eyes were sent as far away as Argentina.

Congress must pass Damon’s Law to stop organ procurement organizations from pressuring grieving families, require truly informed consent, and keep donated body parts from being shipped to or sold by for-profit companies.

While facing the worst loss of my life, I was denied the chance to give my son the goodbye I had hoped for. Instead, I was forced to fight for answers. I testified before the Ohio Senate and took a public records case all the way to the Ohio Supreme Court, helping lead to higher transparency laws in the state. No family should have to fight this hard for the truth.

After deciding 30 minutes was a “reasonable” amount of time to reach me, they turned to Damon’s biological father, who had no custody, was not involved in his life, and had never helped make medical decisions for him. I have found no record that anyone called me. The medical records only show that I called the hospital.

In 2025, HHS found serious problems in 29% of the organ donation cases it reviewed, including concerns about consent and whether families were told the full truth. Damon’s family was failed by that same kind of broken process: one that did not give us the honesty, meaningful consent, or protection we deserved. 

I believe in organ donation. This is not about ending the gift of life. It is about making sure the public understands how federal oversight can allow an industry to profit from the generosity of donors and their families.

 Damon was the light of my life for 18 years, and he deserved to have dignity in death. As his mother, I deserve to know if my child’s body parts can be sold for profit. As a citizen, I deserve informed consent.  

Together, we can build a system that's truly accountable and compassionate. Let's be the voice for those who can no longer speak for themselves. Please sign my petition for Damon, and help make informed consent the law everywhere.

Forever Damon's mother, Andrea Mauk