Heart donor saved four lives

Tim Korzen died suddenly at 44

• By Leon Hendrix | WOOD TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Peggy Korzen knew what her husband, Tim, wished.

"He was on the (organ donor) registry, so we knew that was what he would have wanted," she said when she met the media on Tuesday.

Tim Korzen died of bacterial meningitis the day after Thanksgiving. But his heart gave fresh life to Rahn Bentley in the first heart transplant performed at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids.

The 44-year-old man, born on Valentine's Day, registered as an organ donor through the Michigan Secretary of State. The Ada man had two children who see their dad as a hero.

"It was an instant decision," Peggy said. "We're happy for the Bentley family. Certainly it's great that their loved one will live, hopefully a long and healthy life with a new heart."

Three other organs - both kidneys and his liver - were donated, as well.

"For somebody that can save four lives, when we can't have him back, that's really the best outcome we could've hoped for."