For Beau: Family makes decision to donate organs

Beau Walter (left) with his mother Carrah (middle left), his father Johnny (middle right) and his younger brother Brody (right). Beau was born in Pincher Creek, AB and raised on a farm near Glenwood, AB. Shortly after graduation, he moved to Redcliff, AB with his family and started working for Aecon Transportation West. The family said they will miss his morning wake-up Snapchats, watching him sing, and his TikToks with “Ruby,” his truck. Submitted photo.

NICK ALLEN - Pass Herald Reporter

The loss of one life has helped many others, with the organ and tissue donations from one 22-year-old man giving 11 people another chance. On August 18, 2022, Beau Walter was the passenger in a vehicle driving to a lake near Redcliff to relax on a day off. While on the way there, their vehicle lost control and Beau was critically injured, and succumbed to his injuries two days later.

Beau was born in Pincher Creek and raised in the area. Shortly after graduating, he moved to Redcliff, Alberta with his family.

His mother Carrah Walter spoke about what her son was like. She said he was an “adventurous kid and truly kind,” helping anywhere he was needed.

"He had an infectious smile. He always gave the biggest hugs. I feel that he is so proud. We are so proud of him and everybody that he's helped,” said Carrah.

Beau has been able to help 11 people so far. His heart was donated to a man that was almost a perfect match according to Carrah. His pancreas was transplanted to a person that's no longer insulin dependent, and his liver was donated to a recipient that unfortunately succumbed to his disease. His right eye cornea was given to a 45-year-old and his left cornea to a 47-year-old. Six other individuals have received help from bone and cartilage transplants with ages ranging from 26 to 56.

“Tissues can be stored up to five years before they have to be discarded, so we still look forward to each and every update that we receive from the HOPE program,” explained Carrah.

The Human Organ Procurement and Exchange Program or HOPE Program, helps coordinate the deceased organ donation process. She explained how the program lets you know when organs and tissue have been used to help other people.

"We are actually able to write letters back and forth to the recipients. We write a letter and then it goes back to the HOPE program and then the recipients decide if they'd like to write a letter back,” said Carrah, “They write a letter, and it goes back to HOPE and then HOPE forwards it to us. That's pretty special for us, we love hearing those updates.”

With Beau being an athletic 22-year-old universal donor, his mother said it was an easy decision to donate his organs and tissue.

“He would have wanted that... we never second guessed that we were going to help,” said Carrah, “He was such a kind-hearted person that he would have wanted to help others.”

Carrah talked about how there are many people waiting for organs and tissues, not only in Alberta, but across Canada.

“Stop and talk to your family about it and make sure you're signing your donor card and getting it on your driver's license. Know that you can help so many lives,” added Carrah.

She said Beau always had a quote he would like to say: “Look good, feel good, do good.”

Please visit myhealth.alberta.ca/alberta/Pages/organ-and-tissue-donation-consent-to-donate.aspx to join the Alberta organ and tissue registry.

“I hope he's able to help many more with his tissue and blood and I look forward to those updates... I hope one day to meet some of the recipients and possibly listen to his heart beating,” noted Carrah.