Father: We'll Bribe You To Be An Organ Donor

COLLEYVILLE (CBSDFW.COM) - Steve Sinunu can't stop talking about his son.

He was a fighter, says the father "He was always upbeat and understood the value of life, because it could be taken away from him at any moment and that really was something that was special about him!"

CBS 11 News first introduced you to Brad Stoner,20, from Colleyville in May.  He thought he would be stuck in the hospital and would miss prom, but he made it.

And because he thought he would miss graduation he actually got his degree while at Children's Medical Center in Dallas.

He said then in an interview from his hospital bed, "Thank you to everybody for helping out with this!"  That day as usual he was surrounded by his friends and family all who are inspired by him.

Brad had been in and out of the hospital since he was four years old.  On November 5 he lost his fight.  "He was on the list for 2 ½  almost three years when he passed away," explains Sinunu.

Brad was waiting for a new heart, it would be his second transplant.  He needed kidneys too, but never got them.
Even after his death Brad lives on.

He was an organ donor.  "Someone is seeing through his eyes which is amazing to us," says Sinunu.

The family got the idea after one night when Brad was in ICU.  His father says one of the nurses shared with them that a 4-year-old was in the hospital and was abused. She passed away because of her injuries.  Sinunu says they were told that 45 of her organs were donated.

"From her tragic death 45 people had a better lift that is an unbelievable story to us and Bradley and I stayed up for hours talking about that," says Sinunu.

Brad's family has formed a non-profit called the "BradPack Foundation" named after the ratty backpack he used to carry his medicine.

"We are looking to bribe people to become organ donors," said Sinunu "We are telling you become an organ donor and if comes to pass that you do become a donor on your passing we will assist with funeral costs."

It's his father's way of keeping his sons memory alive and along the way hoping another family won't have to wait like they did.

The foundation will have its first fundraiser Saturday at the AMF Bowling Alley in Irving.  It's from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. you can give donations and bowl for free.

There will also be a table set up to register organ donors and answer any questions.  You can also make donations to "Bradpack Foundation," at P.O. Box 539 Colleyville, TX 76034