Five years ago, a teenage boy by the name of Luke Abbate accepted a ride home from a fellow student following a high-school football practice. The teen-age driver, over the objections of Luke and the other young passengers, drove the car in an extremely reckless and irresponsible manner eventually losing control of the vehicle at a speed of 90 miles per hour. The car proceeded to spin off the road and land in an embankment over 70 feet below. Luke suffered irreparable brain damage, and died in the hospital two days later. Luke Abbate's death occurred a mere 4 days before his sixteenth birthday.
The Abbate family gifted Luke’s organs in a nationwide organ transplant program. Five recipients were identified as matches, including a young mother who was suffering with serious heart disease.
Sharing an uncommon blood type, Luke’s heart was flown to the young woman’s hospital location across the country, resulting in a successful heart transplant, and saving her life.
After the tragic death of his 15 year old brother Luke, Wake Forest's football player Jon Abbate fought through his grief to help lead his team through their most inspiring football season yet. Jon did it all as a way of honoring the younger brother who loved and idolized him. He even changed his number from his long-standing 40, to his brother’s number 5.
Much can be learned from Luke, Jon, and the rest of the Abbate Family including the importance of organ donation, as well as the dangers and life-altering consequences of irresponsible driving.
While I haven't seen the film yet myself, I was greatly touched by the trailer and the inspirational storyline. I'm a mother to five and my oldest is a 16 year old boy who frequently catches rides home from his fellow students after his own high school football practice ends. It pains me greatly to even ponder Mrs. Abbate's shoes for a single moment ... and while I can't make things better for her, I can get the word out about this movie and the many messages it has to tell.
See the widget below for a trailer and take the pledge: