BJ Miller was an all-American boy: scholar, athlete, sports lover, football fan, devoted son.
With his dazzling smile and caring heart, he was a big star in his small town of Sunnyside, Washington. “We nurtured and raised the warmest hearted, giving, caring young man whose spirit of life was to live well, love much and laugh often—which continued throughout his 19 years of life,” said his dad, John.
On October 12, 2007, three days after his 19th birthday, BJ was in a fatal auto accident. When his parents were faced with the despair that their son would not survive, they knew it was the right thing to donate his organs because they had previously spoken to BJ about donation and knew it was his wish. Already a beloved young man, that day he became a hero—by donating his organs and corneas to six waiting recipients.
One of BJ’s recipients is wife and mom of twins, Brenda Webb, who received a life-saving liver transplant. While waiting nearly six months for the transplant, Brenda and her family had to move away from their home so she could be near the transplant center. Now, back at home in Tahoe Brenda reflects on BJ and his family, “I think it might give BJ’s family a little piece of mind to know that they saved my life.”
LifeCenter Northwest has been working with the Miller family ever since the day BJ lost his life and saved the lives of so many others. One of the ways BJ’s heroic gifts were honored was at the famed Rose Parade on January 1, 2009 in Pasadena, California. A “floragraph” bearing BJ’s photo made its way along the parade route as part of the Donate Life America Rose Parade Float, titled “Stars of Life”.
BJ will always be a star—to his family, friends, community, and to the lives he saved with such a courageous and generous gift.