Ryan Lee Mohn

Type of Donation:             Organ, tissue and cornea donor

Age and Location:             Age 16 – Steelton, PA

Donation Date:                  February 4, 2004

Sponsor:                               Honored by Gift of Life Donor Program

RYAN’S STORY

Ryan Lee Mohn was a 16-year-old junior at Steelton-Highspire High School in Steelton, PA in 2004.  An outstanding athlete, he was a starting pitcher on the school’s baseball team, a reserve guard for the basketball team and he led the school’s championship football team as its star quarterback.  Ryan was a person that others were drawn to and he had many friends.

In January 2004, Ryan and two of his friends were on their way to the mall less than a mile from home when the car he was riding in struck a tree. Ryan had massive head trauma and spent a week in the hospital before it was determined that he had no brain stem activity and passed away.

Just a month before Ryan’s accident, he passed his driving test and received his license.  He made the decision to register as an organ and tissue donor, a choice that no one thought would affect him so soon.  His mother, Alison Mohn, says, “Ryan was active in our church’s youth group and they had a speaker come and talk about donation.  A kidney recipient shared his story and it inspired Ryan to register.  My son encouraged friends at school to register after he heard the recipient’s story.”

Because of Ryan’s selfless decision, six people received life-saving transplants, and hundreds of other lives were enhanced through his tissue donations. Ryan’s beautiful memory lives on through his family and through his transplant recipients.

To continue Ryan’s legacy, the Mohn Family created the Ryan Lee Mohn Memorial Foundation.  The foundation provides scholarships to graduating seniors from Ryan’s high school, promotes organ and tissue donation awareness, and makes donations to other organizations in Ryan’s memory.

Ryan’s mother Alison adds, “Knowing that Ryan saved and enhanced so many lives helps with our grief.  Organ donation works.  We never know if one day we could need a life-saving transplant.  I would hope that, even in an extreme time of grief, others would say yes to organ and tissue donation.”