A Giving Spirit Rides On
by Price Family
Since he was 12 years old, John Price always had a motorcycle. "From Suzukis to Harleys to Hondas," said his wife, Debra, "I never knew him without one."
John's motorcycle was his escape. He would take the bike out in Cambridge, Ohio, without a destination in mind, feeling the wind against his face; he'd ride wherever the road took him. He enjoyed biking with family, frequently riding with his brothers, Tony and Marty, and taking his kids around the block.
"He used a bike to potty train our son," said Debra, as riding on the bike was motivation for their son to learn quickly!
A Vietnam Veteran, John liked to remain active and was involved in his community. "He would help anyone," said Debra, "Plumbing, truck repair, roofing, whatever anyone needed – John could do it."
John was known for his giving spirit. His daughter, Kelsey, recalls an incident when a small turtle was crossing the road. Her dad stopped what he was doing and moved that turtle to safety before it was hit by a car. "That's just the kind of guy he was," said Kelsey.
It came as no surprise to the Price family that John was a registered organ and tissue donor, a decision that brought the family some comfort after John died from complications of a motorcycle accident in 2002.
"John gave the ultimate gift the day he died," said Debra, "He had one final act of giving. I know he would be happy to know he had helped others live."
John saved four lives through organ donation, and his family had the opportunity to meet his liver and heart recipients. "They were so grateful," said Debra who recalled an amazing story she heard from John's heart recipient, Blaine. "When he woke up from his transplant surgery, he said he had dreams about riding a motorcycle with a man he didn't know. Blaine had never ridden a motorcycle a day in his life. It was like knowing John still lives on."
Today, seven years after losing John, the Price family still misses him every day, but works to advocate for organ and tissue donation in his honor. Debra, Kelsey and Jay are all registered organ donors and both Debra and Kelsey speak in their community about the importance of registering.
"If you can give the gift of sight to someone for the first time, or enable another person to live long enough to meet their grandchildren, why wouldn't you," Debra asks.
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