April marks National Donate a Life Month, and a Clearwater mother is sharing her son's story in hopes of raising awareness about the impact of organ donation.
"Sean's choice to be an organ donor has saved my life and others and I think it's important people understand what donation means," said Virginia Bentley mother of Sean.
Bentley 22-year-old son became an organ and issue donor May 2025 after a fatal motorcycle accident.
"I chose to stand behinds Sean's decision to be an organ donator and its been a rough rollercoaster and its been a great one because there's a lot of positive in it. Even though Sean wasn't here, his life still goes on," Bentley said.
Sean registered to be an organ donor at 16. At first, Bentley said she didn't understand his decision, but that changed after he explained his reasoning
"He told me that when he passes, he wants to give his organs to someone in need since he can't take them with him," she said
Bentley said seeing the impact of organ donation firsthand confirmed her decision to honor Sean's wishes was the right one.
"When you watch the results of organ donation and what they do, just from ever aspect its a miracle," Bentley said. "Everything I didn't know I needed if Sean didn't make that selfless decision. It has kept me going."
There are over 100,000 people on the waiting list for an organ and about 7,000 of those people are in Florida, according to LifeLink.
Kelly Cullen, chief operating officer of LifeLink, said one organ donor can save up to eight lives, while tissue and eye donation can enhance more than 75 others.
"We have the privilege of helping turn donations into life saving gifts. We work along side the donors families, local hospitals and transplants centers to help give those on the waiting list a second chance," Cullen said.
In 2025 LifeLink worked with 360 donor families, resulting in 995 transplants.
"This month celebrates the donors and educates why it's so important to be an organ donor because we still have so much work left to do," Cullen said.
For Bentley, the impacts of her son's decision became more real when she met Sean's double lung recipient.
"When I was able to meet Sean's lung recipient for the first time...." Bentley said starting to tear up. "Even though I didn't physically have my son, I knew that he was breathing through this man and the first time I hugged him, it was like the closest thing I had to my son. It felt like so much healing."
Bentley said sharing Sean's story is her way of helping others understand the lasting impact of organ donation.
"Life doesn't have to end. It could still live on," Bentley said. "Even though they are physically gone, their legacy can carry on through the people they help."
Through Seans donations, he helped improve more than 80 lives. He donated his heart, liver, pancreas, both lungs, kidneys and his corneas. Bentley said her closer relationship with his lung recipient is a constant reminder that his legacy lives on.