Cameron Rutledge

My name is Ashley, I’m the mother of Cameron Rutledge.

Cameron was 14 when he passed and it came as a shock wave for me and everyone who loved and knew him. It’s been 4 months and it still feels like yesterday! My son was my everything and it kills my soul to know I’ll never see him become a man or have children or get married or even see what he would become.

He was the one child I had that was my twin, he looked just like me he acted just like me but most importantly he loved me and respected me for who I am. The kid was amazing in every way! He was so smart. His teachers would call me and say Mrs. Wilson, Cameron isn’t doing his class work and I would ask him why I was getting calls about this and he would tell me, “mom it’s too easy, why do I need to do the classwork when I know I’m gonna pass the test they give?” Sure enough every test was 100%.

He never spoke to an adult without saying yes ma’am or yes sir. He had just completed 9th grade when he passed and had his first girlfriend. I think the hardest thing I’ve ever done is having to tell my baby goodbye! I got on the LOPA webpage and read a couple stories, and one recipient story made my heart stop, and it was at that moment that I knew I had made the right choice. This lady acknowledged that in order for her to live someone had to die and she didn’t want that, but she also didn’t wanna die because of her three children at home who needed her.

This is how I look at it, if your loved one is gone and there isn’t any way to bring them back why be selfish? I know my son would have wanted to help save a life because it’s the selfless thing to do!!! Why keep organs that could help another live. But to all the recipients I would like to say this, please remember that you carry inside you a piece of someone’s loved one and just knowing you helps the healing process!

With all my love, thank you LOPA.