How One Little Boy's Tragic Accident Saved Hundreds of Lives

The tragic death of one young boy has resulted in the lives of many others being saved.

Riley Moon was 10 and a half years old and living with his family in Canberra, on the night, he grabbed his scooter to drop a footy back at his mate’s, he sadly collided with a car.

His mother Jo said when she got to the hospital, she knew right away what the situation was after speaking directly to the paramedics.

Riley had suffered severe head trauma despite wearing a helmet and the outlook was dark.

So, the family had big decisions to make.

Jo and her husband Geoff had always been advocates of organ donation and decided that is what Riley would have wanted as he was a generous and giving young soul.

She also said it made Riley’s death “seem a little less worthless… a bit less pointless”.

There’s a young child somewhere in Australia who has just left hospital with a new heart thanks to Riley Moon.

And there’s a baby who has also been discharged from care with a new liver thanks to Riley.

A grown man has gone home with a new kidney and pancreas thanks to Riley.

Jo said it is very much a personal decision but that it’s helped their family cope with losing Riley.

“It gives us a little bit of hope knowing our strong beautiful boy lives through the lives of others.”

Find out how you can register to become a donor here.

Share your comments below.

Sad news from the couple who carried baby to term for organ donation

13 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 24 Jun 2022
    11:19 am
It so wonderful when parents are able to think quickly and be so thoughtful and giving to help others in their own time of tragedy.

- - mom101628 said
  - 22 Jul 2018
    10:19 pm
Wonderful decision to donate – but such a pity the accident happened.

- - mom111059 said
  - 18 Jun 2018
    9:58 am
What a wonderful family. I’m so sorry for you losing Riley. To help so many other families was a selfless decision.

- - tessie said
  - 04 Apr 2018
    10:56 am
What a wonderful way to spread their love for Riley. Nothing can bring him back unfortunately. RIP young Riley

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 28 Mar 2018
    11:38 am
What beautiful people!

- - ella12 said
  - 27 Mar 2018
    11:38 am
Oh my, what a decision to make. RIP Riley.

- - rachel1970 said
  - 27 Mar 2018
    6:45 am
Such a tragedy, would be so difficult to make a decision like this when facing such a situation.

- - kjgarner said
  - 26 Mar 2018
    9:21 pm
My brother is just like Riley.
I lost my younger brother in 2014 due to a skateboard accident and although he wasn’t on the registry as a family we made the decision to donate his organs rather than to be buried in the ground. As a result my parents have met the man that has my brother’s heart and have listened to it and also met the man that has my brother’s lungs. Even know they weren’t supposed to find out who they were, they were able to do so and keep in contact with them. My brother lives on in their lives now.

- - rovermum said
  - 26 Mar 2018
    9:09 pm
Such great human spirit in the face of tragedy. My husband and I are on the organ donor registry and I applaud this family for what they’ve been able to do. I know that if anything did happen to my son, I would want his organs to be donated, to save the lives of others and to give other families hopes and new beginnings. I think there is no greater gift.

- - jenniw said
  - 21 Mar 2018
    9:14 am
That is a decision you would not wish on anyone but it is a beautiful way of making a terrible situation a little bit better. I have spoken to my children about organ donation and it is something we will do if we have to make that decision.

- - Ellen said
  - 21 Mar 2018
    4:18 am
Beautiful ! I can imagine that Riley’s death feels a little less worthless and a little less pointless because of this.

- - BellaB said
  - 20 Mar 2018
    7:18 pm
Such a hard decision. Surely it would feel a little like giving up hope.

- - mom90758 said
  - 20 Mar 2018
    2:40 pm
It’s wonderful what they decided to do!
RIP Riley 🙁