Young boy honored for donating organs following death in Santa Fe mobile home fire
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A couple of weeks ago, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office rescued two young brothers from a mobile home engulfed in flames. The two brothers were taken to the hospital and received emergency medical care. However, one of them, Vicente Mendoza, died at the hospital as result of injuries. 'This case is hard because it's a young hero,' said Celina Espinoza, External Affairs Director for New Mexico Donor Services.
But through the pain and grief, Mendoza and his family are making it possible for other family's loved ones to continue living by donating his organs. To honor Mendoza, his family, friends, and healthcare workers lined the halls of UNMH as he was taken from the ICU to the operating room. 'It's their hardest day when they're saving somebody else's life, but you know that that legacy continues,' Espinoza said.
According to New Mexico Donor Services, Vicente and his family will help save three lives with the decision to donate his liver, pancreas, and kidneys. New Mexico Donor Services says it can take up to five years for a recipient to find a match.
'Often times, recipients are within days of dying and so getting that phone call, sometimes in the middle of the night, hearing that you have a match, and that somebody is donating to you, it's just the best news you can get,' Espinoza added.
Vicente's family has started a GoFundMe to help them cover medical expenses. People interested in becoming a donor can do so here.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office said they could not determine what caused the mobile home fire but that a space heater could not be ruled out as a factor.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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