This father’s day, two young boys will celebrate the father they lost and the lives he saved.
Ethan Reid Nickell, of Ada, Okla., was a devoted father to two young boys whose greatest joy was spending time with those he loved. Weekends meant fishing poles in the water and his boys never too far behind. Whether he was working on cars in the driveway, shooting hoops in the yard, or gathering friends and family for a cookout, Ethan brought energy, laughter, and a sense of ease to every room he walked into.
“He had the most beautiful smile and a laugh that was contagious,” said Billi Miller, Ethan’s mother.
Ethan dedicated his career to supporting adults with intellectual disabilities, caring deeply for the individuals he served. Above all, he loved being a father.
His mother fondly remembers the excitement Ethan felt when he learned he was going to become a dad.
“When Ethan found out his wife was pregnant, he called me and was over the moon telling me they were expecting,” she recalled. “Before we hung up, he told me to act surprised when his wife announced her pregnancy. He was so excited that he had to call his momma and tell me.”
That same excitement returned when the couple learned they were expecting their second child.
Ethan had lived generously with his family and in his career. Just two months before his passing, Ethan made the decision to register as an organ donor. It was just who he was: quietly generous and always thinking of others. Through that decision and action, he was able to save and enhance the lives of five recipients.
“Through all of our pain in losing our son, we find comfort in knowing that he was able to give life to five people,” his mother said.
This Father’s Day, Ethan’s family celebrates the enduring impact of his love — a love reflected in the lives of his children, the memories shared by family and friends, and the lives forever changed by his gift of donation.
While Ethan’s seat at the table is empty, Ethan is still showing up in five lives, five families and countless moments he is making possible.
LifeShare encourages all Oklahomans to learn more about organ donation, register, and share your decision with your family. Making a decision to be an organ donor is deeply personal and needed. One person has the ability to save 8 lives through donation, and more than 100,000 people are awaiting a transplant in the United States. Learn more at LifeShareOK.org.
