Photo: Albert Cesare
Even after death, one Odessa man is saving lives.
Through organ donation, 40-year-old Gilbert Garcia was able to help others.
“There are three lives already saved,” Garcia’s stepson Josh Robinett said.
While working on his television on July 14, Garcia was electrocuted in his Odessa home, Robinett said.
Garcia’s wife, Lena Garcia said she went into another room briefly to change their granddaughter’s diaper.
At first, Lena said she didn’t realize what had happened, and called out to Gilbert that she smelled something electrical burning.
“I just got this awful feeling,” Lena Garcia said.
Upon reentering the room she saw Gilbert with his head lying on part of the television and rushed over.
Seeing that he was burned, Lena said she called the police and, with help from the dispatcher began CPR.
He was quickly sent to Medical Center Hospital and then to University Medical Center in Lubbock, Robinett said.
But on July 18th, Garcia was pronounced dead, Lena said.
And the family was faced with a decision.
Although he wasn’t listed as an organ donor, doctors gave the family the option of donating Gilbert’s organs, Robinett said.
The family thought about what he would want and the kind of person he was, Robinett said.
“Our conclusion was to do it,” Robinett said.
The identities of the organ recipients are currently unknown, but Robinett said that once a year there is a candlelight vigil and families of donors can meet the organ recipients.
Garcia was one of about 8,000 people that donate organs in Texas annually, Southwest Transplant Alliance representative Pam Silvestri said.
Unfortunately, there are about 10,000 people waiting for organs in Texas and over 100,000 waiting across the nation, Silvestri said.
“All of us should really be signing up to be donors,” Silvestri, a living donor, said.
Organ donation is only done with the consent of the donor or the donor’s family, Silvestri said.
And, unless the person is a living donor, they must have died in a hospital while on a ventilator to be considered, Silvestri said.
Although the Alliance works with West Texas hospitals to coordinate with donors, hospitals where recipients can receive donated organs are only located in Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio, Silvestri said.
Gilbert Garcia’s family has not yet met the people he saved, but Silvestri said that meetings between donor recipients and the donor’s family are not uncommon.
“I think it really provides comfort to families who are grieving,” Silvestri said.
Survived by his wife, stepchildren and grandchildren, the loss is particularly hard for his wife.
Sometimes it’s hard to believe he’s really gone, Lena said.
“It’s like I’m waiting for him to come home from his fishing trip,” Lena said.
And Garcia’s family members are not the only ones grieving. He is also mourned by the Salvation Army community.
Garcia attended the Salvation Army church occasionally with his wife, Salvation Army representative Lt. Stephen Correira said.
And Robinett is a Salvation Army lieutenant stationed in Arkansas, Correira said.
In fact, the Salvation Army where Robinett works sent the family a tree in memory of Gilbert which is planted in their yard, Lena said.
And someday his family hopes to meet the people Gilbert helped.
“Even in his death he’s doing things for others,” Robinett said.
Through organ donation, 40-year-old Gilbert Garcia was able to help others.
“There are three lives already saved,” Garcia’s stepson Josh Robinett said.
While working on his television on July 14, Garcia was electrocuted in his Odessa home, Robinett said.
Garcia’s wife, Lena Garcia said she went into another room briefly to change their granddaughter’s diaper.
At first, Lena said she didn’t realize what had happened, and called out to Gilbert that she smelled something electrical burning.
“I just got this awful feeling,” Lena Garcia said.
Upon reentering the room she saw Gilbert with his head lying on part of the television and rushed over.
Seeing that he was burned, Lena said she called the police and, with help from the dispatcher began CPR.
He was quickly sent to Medical Center Hospital and then to University Medical Center in Lubbock, Robinett said.
But on July 18th, Garcia was pronounced dead, Lena said.
And the family was faced with a decision.
Although he wasn’t listed as an organ donor, doctors gave the family the option of donating Gilbert’s organs, Robinett said.
The family thought about what he would want and the kind of person he was, Robinett said.
“Our conclusion was to do it,” Robinett said.
The identities of the organ recipients are currently unknown, but Robinett said that once a year there is a candlelight vigil and families of donors can meet the organ recipients.
Garcia was one of about 8,000 people that donate organs in Texas annually, Southwest Transplant Alliance representative Pam Silvestri said.
Unfortunately, there are about 10,000 people waiting for organs in Texas and over 100,000 waiting across the nation, Silvestri said.
“All of us should really be signing up to be donors,” Silvestri, a living donor, said.
Organ donation is only done with the consent of the donor or the donor’s family, Silvestri said.
And, unless the person is a living donor, they must have died in a hospital while on a ventilator to be considered, Silvestri said.
Although the Alliance works with West Texas hospitals to coordinate with donors, hospitals where recipients can receive donated organs are only located in Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio, Silvestri said.
Gilbert Garcia’s family has not yet met the people he saved, but Silvestri said that meetings between donor recipients and the donor’s family are not uncommon.
“I think it really provides comfort to families who are grieving,” Silvestri said.
Survived by his wife, stepchildren and grandchildren, the loss is particularly hard for his wife.
Sometimes it’s hard to believe he’s really gone, Lena said.
“It’s like I’m waiting for him to come home from his fishing trip,” Lena said.
And Garcia’s family members are not the only ones grieving. He is also mourned by the Salvation Army community.
Garcia attended the Salvation Army church occasionally with his wife, Salvation Army representative Lt. Stephen Correira said.
And Robinett is a Salvation Army lieutenant stationed in Arkansas, Correira said.
In fact, the Salvation Army where Robinett works sent the family a tree in memory of Gilbert which is planted in their yard, Lena said.
And someday his family hopes to meet the people Gilbert helped.
“Even in his death he’s doing things for others,” Robinett said.
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