Death of Josh Tolan gives new life for four others
ORTONVILLE -- Josh Tolan proudly represented Brandon High School as the team's starting varsity quarterback, but a football player was just a small fraction of who he was, and what he meant to others.
"He was my best friend," said Matt Rife, Josh's older brother. "Whenever I call, I call him up at 2, 3 o'clock in the morning if I'm having a hard time sleeping, or something's on my mind."
"He was just a very kind, caring individual," added Josh's father, Dan Tolan. "That was his nature, you know? He always put you first, instead of himself."
But on June 8, 2009, tragedy struck. Josh was severely injured in a car accident on his way to a Bible study class, and was declared brain dead the following day at the age of 20. On June 11, Josh's parents decided to make their son an organ donor. It was Josh's giving nature and selflessness which made that decision an easy one in an otherwise devastating time.
"He donated blood for so many weeks, and stuff like that. If they were low on his type, they would call him and say we need you," said Josh's mother, Renelle Tolan. "And he would go right in and donate blood. So, it wasn't a hard decision once we had to make it. We knew exactly that's what he would have chosen for himself."
Though Josh is now gone, his legacy lives on through four other people whose lives he saved through the donations of his heart, kidneys and liver. One of those recipients is a nine year-old Mid-Michigan boy named Jacob, who met the Tolans for the first time earlier this month.
"He came in with this big smile, you know," said Renelle. "He had this T-shirt on that said, 'My Donor Is My Hero.' It is rewarding to know that we did make a difference in this little guy's life, and he has a much better life now."
Josh's heroic deed earned him a spot in the Tournament of Roses Parade of New Year's Day, preceding the Rose Bowl. Josh will be represented by a floral portrait to be displayed on a float sponsored by the "Donate Life" organization.
