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A son's legacy: New Brighton man's organs help dozens of people
Bruce Barnes and Julie Zapp have found many ways to remember their son, Jared. They check out pictures of him holding a fish or wearing a tuxedo at his sister's wedding. They look at one of his signature paintings, a self-portrait. They tell stories of Jared's feats on the field and his charm in life. "He was an exceptional artist and an exceptional athlete," said Julie Zapp. "My son Jared was a wonderful young man." Today, the couple holds onto their memories as treasures left by a son, who's left them. On May 19th, Jared Barnes was driving down Highway 10 in Anoka when he slammed into the back of a Minnesota Department of Transportation truck. The crash all but ended his life. "Basically, [he] was killed instantly from massive brain injuries and neck injuries," Julie said. Bruce and Julie rushed to Mercy Hospital where they learned there was nothing doctors -- or anyone -- could do to save their son. "I asked if he was alive, she said, 'yes, but he's going to die,'" said Bruce Barnes. "It basically sucks your breath out of you," Julie said. It was while still absorbing their son's death, Bruce and Julie learned how Jared would help others live. They were asked whether Jared had wanted to be an organ donor. "While he did not have that on his driver's license, he had expressed his wishes to our family," Julie said. And so, Jared's organs were donated -- five major ones, including his heart, kidneys and liver, along with his skin, bone and tissue. Rebecca Ousley of the LifeSource organization says Jared's gifts are significant at a time when the national transplant list is growing. "There's close to a hundred thousand people nationally who are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and even three years ago, it was about 87 thousand," Ousley said, adding that the list includes 2,600 Minnesotans. Today, there's no question Bruce and Julie take pride in their son's legacy. "We have been told up to 60 people or more will benefit from Jared's gifts," Julie said. But the family also values that he's given them yet another way to remember him and remember his final gift. "I just figured it out," said Bruce. "I figured out what God had intended for Jared and it was to give the gift of life to all these people." Meanwhile, the Anoka County Medical Examiner's report indicates that Jared tested negative for both drugs and alcohol the night of the crash. If you're interested in learning more about becoming an organ donor or about the LifeSource organization, you can call 888.5.DONATE or go to: www.DonateLifeMN.org People may also indicate their wish to be an organ and tissue donor by checking the box on their driver's license application.
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