Grieving Parents Find Comfort in Bonding with Man Who Got Their Son’s Heart

Nate Rhoades suffered severe injuries in a collision with a semi-truck in January 2022. A personal trainer has been declared brain-dead and placed on life support to maintain his organ function. He passed away just five days after turning 21.

His legacy continues today through the organ donations that have benefited nearly 100 individuals, including a man from Washington State with whom Nate’s family has formed a close bond. Additionally, a nonprofit center has been established to support at-risk teens and young adults facing substance use and mental health issues.

“We always say, ‘Nate’s on the other side, just, I mean, opening doors for us,’ ” Nate’s mom Heidi Allison tells PEOPLE of her son, who had an addiction as a teen before sobering up. “Because we’ve had so many miraculous things happen.”

Allison describes her and Larry Rhoades’s only child as a “little fighter,” born 12 weeks premature and weighing just over 2 lbs. Nate spent roughly six weeks in the hospital after his birth and experienced anxiety, gastrointestinal problems, ADHD, and had a very outgoing personality, she remembers.

“He just loved people,” the therapist says. “Both Larry and I are in recovery from alcohol for many years. So, we sat down with [him] when he was eight and nine and said, ‘Look. You’re going to have to be so careful because both your parents have had issues with alcohol.’ ”

Eventually, he and his friends started trying out various drugs. One morning, after the teenager obtained some pills, the parents reported he was discovered “barely conscious.” He was subsequently admitted to a residential treatment center, experienced a relapse, and was readmitted.

Allison, 65, shares that “something clicked” during that second attempt, and a peer recovery coach played a crucial role in helping Nate maintain his sobriety. He pursued Addiction Studies at Oxnard College in California and became a certified fitness trainer at a nearby Gold’s Gym, where he worked until his passing.

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“His real passion was exercise, fitness and helping people,” Larry, 80, says.

Following the accident, Allison reveals that many people came to the hospital to bid farewell to Nate and share their memories of him. His family and girlfriend looked on in amazement.

In 2023, they were motivated to establish Nate’s Place, a center focused on wellness and recovery. The center provides personalized peer recovery coaching, group therapy sessions, and fun activities such as boxing, guitar lessons, and ping pong. Heidi reports that over 250 individuals have gained from it to date.

The parents understand that their son has left behind a significant and serious legacy — assisting others through his organ donations. Allison mentions that all aspects of his body, from tissue to bones, were donated.

The couple expressed their joy in a letter to each of Nate’s donor recipients, sharing how pleased they were that their son could make a difference in their lives. They got a few replies. One story from Skylar Collins, who was the recipient of Nate’s heart and liver, truly caught their attention.

“Oh my God,” Allison recalls the letter saying. “I was so happy to get your letter. You can’t believe what I’ve been through.” He then said he would love to meet them.

Collins, 31, shares with PEOPLE that he was born with a condition known as hypoplastic right heart syndrome, resulting in the absence of a right ventricle. By the time he got the transplant, he had undergone around 10 heart surgeries.

Collins recalls feeling somewhat doubtful when he was informed about the need for a transplant in 2017. In the end, he understood that he had to progress because he wished to “live, not die.”

That summer, Allison and Larry engaged in a heartfelt conversation lasting almost an hour and a half with Collins and his wife, Alex, via Zoom.

Collins, a social worker, expresses his relief that his family swiftly alleviated any feelings of guilt he had. “I’ve always found that pretty awesome,” he remarks. He and his wife have maintained a strong connection with Nate’s parents, even visiting Nate’s Place during a trip to California.

Collins acknowledges that his transplant may not endure indefinitely, but with the anticipation of a baby on the way with Alex, he senses a newfound lightness in his life.

He has discovered solace in continuing Nate’s legacy.

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