When Dave Scherotter of Moore, Okla., first met the little boy who would become his son, he knew his life had changed forever.
Clay was just two and a half years old when Dave and April adopted him from foster care. Full of energy, he bounced across the couch, leaped onto Dave’s back and instantly claimed a place in his heart.
“I knew this was my kid,” Dave said.
That fearless, caring spirit never faded.
Clay grew into a young man who loved life outdoors. Whether he was riding bulls, racing go-karts or spending time with horses and cattle, he embraced every adventure. At home, he was known for giving his mom big hugs, making her laugh and sharing an unbreakable bond with his dad. Family members often joked that Clay was Dave’s “mini me.”
Helping people simply came naturally to him. One afternoon, Clay noticed an elderly neighbor struggling to mow her lawn. Without hesitation, he ran across the pasture to help. When she offered to pay him, he refused.
At 16, when Clay earned his driver’s license, he made a selfless decision. He registered as an organ, eye and tissue donor. His family never imagined how meaningful that choice would become.
After Clay was involved in a fatal car accident and because he was a minor, April and Dave chose to honor his wishes of becoming an organ donor. Through that final gift, Clay was able to donate bone and connective tissue, creating 81 grafts and impacting more than 86 recipients.
For Dave, the decision carried even deeper meaning. Years earlier, while being treated for cancer, he received a bone graft made possible through tissue donation. Having experienced the life-changing impact firsthand, he understood the hope those gifts can provide.
Today, Clay’s legacy continues to shape his family’s life.
“The very first phone call we received after coming home from the hospital was from LifeShare,” April said. “They were so kind during the hardest moment of our lives.”
The support didn’t end there. Through LifeShare’s Aftercare Program, the family connected with other donor families who understood their grief.
“Those events made us feel less alone,” April said.
Today, Dave also shares Clay’s story through his involvement with the Redrum Motorcycle Club’s Otter Trail Chapter, helping raise awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation and encouraging others to register as donors.
For April and Dave, advocacy is one more way to honor the son whose greatest legacy was helping others.
Clay’s story is a reminder that tissue donation doesn’t simply heal physical injuries — it carries a person’s compassion forward, creating hope for families they will never meet.
By registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor, every Oklahoman has the opportunity to leave behind a legacy of generosity, just as Clay did. Learn more at LifeShareOK.org.
