Logan Vanderkleed

Type of Donation:             Tissue donor

Age and Location:             Age 2 – LaFayette, IN

Donation Date:                  August 24, 2017

Sponsor:                               Honored by Cryolife

LOGAN’S STORY

At just two years old, Logan Vanderkleed loved to climb, jump, dance, laugh and play. He loved anything and everything that had to do with being outdoors or at our family farm.  He loved Spiderman, blue tractor videos, animals, music, his sticker book, wearing everyone else’s shoes, climbing everything without fear, cuddling with his star blankie and doggie blankie, dancing his super cute dance moves, and “not catching” fish (even though he somehow caught them on his own).  He gave amazing hugs and kisses to all.

Logan lit up any room he entered, captured the attention of, and entertained many. He loved playing with and teasing his older sister Kendra. He was energetic, loving and trusting of everyone. He also loved family sandwich-hugs and mowing with the men.

Logan loved dinosaurs too.  After trying on a dinosaur costume for Halloween, he refused to take it off.  We allowed him to wear it as pajamas for three straight nights.  He even slept with the dinosaur mittens on overnight.  Whenever Logan wore it, he would make loud dinosaur noises and dance around the house.  He was one of the cutest little dinosaurs.

Logan also loved routines.  He enjoyed roughhousing with daddy and then cuddling with mommy before bed.  We had to work on his sticker book each night.  He chose three stickers and then mommy would have to put them on his hands or arms.  After selecting the perfect page for each sticker, he would pull them off his arm and then place them in his book.  Following that, he enjoyed singing Skinnamarink in which mommy moved his arms for him while singing the song.  When it was time to actually go to bed, daddy had to come back in and tell him to go to bed so they could have biscuits and gravy for breakfast in the morning.  Then Logan would finally go to bed.

Even though Logan was only two years old, he already exemplified a great love for Christ, praying out loud with us before meals and at bedtime. Through his death, he brought many to Christ. He is greatly missed each and every day.

Logan’s passing, we discovered Logan’s heart valves were donated to a little boy in California and to a little girl in Missouri.  We had the pleasure of meeting Lillian, Logan’s heart valve recipient, and her family.  We now have a wonderful relationship with them, and feel blessed to know that Logan could help them.