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Powerful video shows ‘Honor Walk’ before crash victim donates organs

Posted at 12:48 PM, Jan 03, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-03 12:48:33-05

DES MOINES, Iowa -- A powerful video shows how an accident victim, in death, is giving life to others.

It’s a moment called the honor walk, where friends and family line the halls of the hospital before an organ donor is taken past them into the operating room.

22-year old Austin Gainuss was the one being honored. His donations will be able to save the lives of up to eight people - and with tissue donations be able to impact the lives of hundreds more.

Gainuss was seriously hurt in a car crash Saturday night when a truck driven by 37-year-old Travis Gonzalez rear ended his car. His passenger, 24-year old Joshua Cox, died after the accident Saturday.  Charges are pending against Gonzales .

Gainuss was taken off of life support on Tuesday.

In this particular honor walk members of the Navy, which Gainuss was a part of, also lined the halls.

Kaylie Hoyle of the Iowa Donor Network says more and more hospitals are beginning to do honor walks.

“The gift the donor and the donor family give is just the most precious gift that anyone can give, and it’s the gift of life. The honor walk is a small but beautiful way to not only honor the loved one and who they are but also pay tribute to the amazing legacy they're about to leave” Hoyle told WHO.

Hoyle says that Iowa has one of the highest numbers of registered organ donors in the country with nearly 75% of Iowans registered. Methodist, where the surgery was performed, started doing honor walks last year.