'Something good...out of something tragic': Aurora man saves lives with organ donations

Almost a year after the motorcycle crash that claimed her son's life, Diane New returned to Cleveland Clinic Akron General to thank hospital staff for the respectful way they dealt with her son during his last moments.

More: Man dies days after car struck his motorcycle in Aurora, killing a woman passenger

Ryan Tucholsky, 29, of Aurora, died May 3, 2022, days after being injured in a motorcycle crash that also killed his girlfriend, Sara Tartaglio. Nicholas A. Monachino was sentenced to 15 to 21 years in prison for causing their deaths, and his driver's license was suspended for life.

Tucholsky was an organ donor. His mother said his son's organs saved at least four lives. His heart went to a 28-year-old man from another state, and his liver went to Glenda Levin of Akron. New is not sure who received her son's kidneys but said she hopes both are doing well.

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New told her story Friday to a packed auditorium in honor of National Organ Donor Month. Hospital staff, staff from LifeBanc, and Levin, whom New described as her friend, were in attendance.

'Get to the hospital, it's bad'

New said she still remembers April 27, when she was called with the news that her son and his girlfriend had been involved in a motorcycle crash.

"They said, 'Get to the hospital, it's bad," she recalled.

Tucholsky was heading eastbound on state Route 82 near Cochran Road when a 2016 Infiniti Q50 driven by Monachino slammed into the back of the motorcycle. Tucholsky and Tartaglio were thrown from the motorcycle, and Monachino fled from the scene. Monachino was later found after he had crashed his vehicle on Pioneer Trail in Aurora.

Tucholsky had previously discussed his wish to be an organ donor with his family, his mother said. Tartaglio also was an organ donor, but her organs could not be donated because she was pronounced dead shortly after the crash.

Tucholsky had planned to propose to Tartaglio, and the couple planned to raise her two sons together.

New said her son was airlifted to Cleveland Clinic Akron General, where doctors discovered that he'd sustained a severe blow to his brain. He had surgery to relieve the pressure in his brain, but it wasn't enough. Doctors eventually delivered the heartbreaking news that he had sustained two strokes.

"They could keep him alive with life support," she said, "but his days of being our sweet, shy, funny son had passed."

At that moment, New said she remembers the doctor being visibly upset as he delivered the news, saying that Ryan and his family were in his prayers.

"Everyone made us feel like our son was the most important person in the world, and that ending his life with dignity was the chief goal of everybody," she said. "He was your patient, and every bit the human being he once was."

She said after her son's death, hospital staff took one last step to honor her son's sacrifice with the "Walk of Honor," bowing their heads in recognition of his life and the lives he would save.

"My message to you is to keep doing what you're doing," she said. "Those things you do for the families are never forgotten."

'Ryan never got to go down the aisle, but his heart will'

New said LifeBanc, which became "like a second family," told her that her son's organs went on to save at least four lives.

His heart went to a 28-year-old man who also plans to marry.

"Ryan never got to go down the aisle, but his heart will," she said.

And Levin, who received his liver, was able to be around for the birth of her first great granddaughter, just eight days after the surgery.

Levin, a teacher who lives in the Ellet area of Akron, was diagnosed with a hereditary liver condition in 2021. She was put on the transplant list in February of 2022 and got her transplant two days later.

She had to have fluid drained from her system weekly, a treatment process that initially made her feel better, but eventually, she'd feel exhausted when she needed another treatment.

"I was so drained every week," she said.

Two days before Ryan's liver became available, Levin went to Cleveland Clinic for what she thought would be her transplant, but at the last minute, the transplant was canceled because of a problem with the organ. Just two days after being discharged without a new liver, she was called back to the hospital for her transplant.

Eight days later, her first granddaughter, Carson Quinn Bilfield was born. She's now enjoying being a "Nona" to her.

Donate Life month

Hospital and LifeBanc representatives reminded the group that April is "Donate Life Month," and encouraged everyone to make sure they are organ donors and that their loved ones are aware of that choice.

The United Network for Organ Sharing reports that nearly 3,000 Ohio residents are waiting for alifesaving transplant. One organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of more than 75 people.

Ohioans can become part of the state's donor registry by noting that choice when they renew their driver's licenses.

"Let's make something good come out of something tragic," said Gordon Bowen, CEO of LifeBanc.

Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Mom of Aurora crash victim who was organ donor thanks hospital staff