Organ donor saves four lives: A story of grief, new connection and healing
Mason Schuster was the kind of kid everyone wished the world had more of. His mother, Jean, still smiles through tears when she recalls the words of his high school teacher: “I wish there were more Masons in the world.”
He was, simply put, the poster child for kindness. Whether it was holding doors for strangers, helping someone carry groceries, or finding a way to make even the hardest work fun with a well-timed joke, Mason had a way of bringing light wherever he went. But kindness wasn’t just something Mason did, it was who he was. He lived with a deep love for the world around him, especially nature. He loved hunting, fishing, and stargazing, often finding joy in the quiet and simple moments others might overlook.
He was close with his siblings – especially his sister, Ashley, who was just a few years older. They talked every day, sharing a bond that went beyond the usual brother-sister connection.
A devastating loss
Mason, who died by suicide at age 19, and the grief was—still is—heavy. Each family member grieved in their own way. The sorrow was deep, but Jean, guided by Mason’s generous spirit, found a way forward. She found purpose in ensuring that Mason’s legacy didn’t end with his death—it lived on through the four lives he saved through organ donation.
Among those lives was Robbie Knutson.
How one Facebook comment changed everything
One sleepless night, Jean was scrolling Facebook when she came across a post from LifeSource about National Emoji Day. Curious and still hurting, she began reading through the comments—253 in total. One stopped her cold. It read: “Thank God for my organ donor, Mason.” It stood out, she said, “like a flashing light in a dark room.”
The man behind the comment was Robbie, a 59-year-old from Wessington Springs, South Dakota. His life had been dwindling due to lung disease, his mother and brother had both passed from emphysema—and he had been sitting, quite literally, waiting to die. That is, until Mason’s lungs became available.
Making the connection
Jean reached out to Robbie on Facebook; now they now talk every day.
Robbie, who once drove grain trucks, now walks with ease, breathes with gratitude, and carries Mason with him in every breath. “He’s the most grateful person,” Jean says, “and knowing him has brought our family hope.”
He’s the most grateful person and knowing him has brought our family hope.
Jean, Mom of Mason (organ donor)
Robbie described being able to run for the first time in his life – he wants to take care of himself, and the lungs Mason gave him.
Mason’s legacy
“It’s such a blessing,” Robbie said. “I feel like I’m 20 again.”
Through this connection, Jean found a new kind of healing. Her decision—to donate Mason’s organs—wasn’t just about doing good. It was about honoring who Mason was. A helper. A giver.
Today, Mason’s legacy lives in lungs that breathe freely, in a heart that still beats in an 18-year-old, and in the countless lives touched by his story. Jean advocates for donation now. She wants the world to know these are real people with real stories, not headlines or statistics. And that to love, given freely, like Mason would.
“He adored nature. He adored life,” Jean says. “Now, because of him, others get to keep living theirs.”