A mother honors her stepson’s legacy through the gift of life

A family’s decision brings healing to others.
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  • Tom Johnson
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Community People
Donate Life Month - Max

When Katherine Robinson lost her 11-year-old stepson, Max, her family was forced to navigate unimaginable grief.

“We lost Max very suddenly and very unexpectedly, without any real answers or any time to prepare,” she said.

Robinson, who serves as Executive Director of Care Transformation at AdventHealth Central Florida, said the decision that followed was rooted in who Max was.

"It makes me so proud because I know he would be so happy."

Honoring Max’s life has also taken shape in the community.

During the GR8 to DON8 Run for Organ Donation awareness event at Lyman High School — part of the AdventHealth Transplant Institute and OurLegacy’s observances of National Donate Life Month — Robinson’s family created colorful pinwheels decorated with photos of Max.

Pinwheels honoring organ donor hero Max Robinson
Pinwheels honoring organ donor hero Max Robinson

The pinwheels were placed in a “pinwheel garden,” serving as a tribute to his life and a symbol of the lives he continues to impact.

“The pinwheels mean a lot to me,” Robinson said. “It was a place that my other children could grieve but also see joy. And in decorating the pinwheels, they were able to laugh. They were able to remember their brother without the weight and the heaviness that grief brings.”

Today, Robinson carries Max’s legacy forward with love and purpose, knowing his story continues to touch the lives of others.

“It makes me so proud because I know he would be so happy,” she said.

OurLegacy partners with hospitals and donor families to coordinate the organ donation process. Florida residents can sign up to be an organ donor at www.donatelifeflorida.org.

The AdventHealth Transplant Institute is Central Florida’s only solid-organ transplant program, and one of the most comprehensive in the nation. It offers advanced transplant care, supporting patients in body, mind and spirit during every step of their journey.

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