Man Left Brain Dead After Skiing Accident Donates Liver to Save an Expecting Father’s Life

In 2019, Clayton Sparks had a tragic accident while skiing in Colorado that left him brain dead. Although the accident took his life, it saved another man’s life because Clayton was an organ donor.

Reid Gray was a stranger to Clayton, living in Houston and desperately needed a liver transplant. His wife Abby was 21 weeks pregnant with twins, and it was unknown if Reid would be around long enough to see them.

Fate would play a role as Clayton and Reid shared a mutual friend. Through a direct liver donation, where the organ donor directs the organ to a specific recipient, Clayton’s family was able to carry on his life and save Reid’s life at the same time. 

A direct liver donation only has a 25% chance of being a match, but this was meant to be, as now Reid, Abby, and the twins are all healthy and the bond between them and Clayton’s family is stronger than ever. One of the twins’ middle names is Clayton, and they both consider Clayton’s parents like their own grandparents.

Clayton was also able to help over 80 other people through donations of his corneas, tissue, and other organs. 

Because of Clayton’s incredible sacrifice for her husband and others, Abby wrote a book about him. Three years later the children’s book is now available. It is geared toward two-to-eight year-olds and tells the heartwarming story of compassion, kindness, generosity, and the ultimate gift of life. 

There is a saying that if you are going to die, it might as well be doing something you love. Skiing falls into this category for many, but Clayton added to it by saving another man’s life in the process. 

To become an organ donor click here, and to order a copy of the book, click here.