ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. — An Allegan County family already mourning the loss of a father killed in a wreck recently said goodbye to their oldest son, who was also gravely injured.
The Savage family and their three boys were involved in a crash in Fillmore Township on June 30. It happened at 136th Avenue and 58th Street.
The Allegan County Sheriff's Office said the family was headed westbound on 136th Avenue and didn't stop for the stop sign at 58th Street. That's when they were hit by a pickup truck, the sheriff's office said.
The pickup driver wasn't hurt.
The father, Danny, died in the crash. On Saturday, the family said 14-year-old Mason was taken off of life support and died. His family has decided to donate his organs to someone in need.
Family member Tina Josten is still processing the loss of her nephew Mason and his father Danny.
“With him being such a sensitive and kind child, his mom figured that he would want to give the gift of life to other children who were ailing, so she's made the tough decision to donate his organs and save other mothers from having to go through the same heartache that she's going through,” Josten said.
The mother, Chelsea, and their youngest son remain hospitalized. Their other son is still in serious condition.
Mason's grandmother remembers her grandson as bright, quiet and generous to others. She said he was looked up to by his friends who loved him dearly.
His grandmother said he loved his two younger brothers and they often shared time playing video games. His family said he was passionate about mathematics, robotics and spending time with his family, making memories that are now holding the family together.
"Anything they did, they did together, all of them,” Josten said. "They'd all be downstairs yelling with excitement over the games. They may not have enjoyed the same games, but they were still enjoying being together."
The family hopes that by donating Mason’s organs, they can give a second chance to another family.
“Cherish every moment you have with the people you love. It doesn't matter if they're family, some people aren't so close with their family, but you should just cherish them, you never know when it may be the last time,” Josten said.
A GoFundMe has been set up to support the Savage family during this time.
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