Talon Flohr's legacy lives on

SANDUSKY — Talon Flohr's giving spirit continues to impact lives thanks to his decision to become an organ donor. Flohr, 28, died on May 28. He was Sandusky's community outreach coordinator and created the Sandusky Youth Commission. During his time with the city, Flohr spearheaded the creation of a new park, helped coordinate the renovation of Jaycee Park and organized the opening of warming and cooling shelters. A city park at Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) and Erie Boulevard has been renamed Talon Flohr Park and will be dedicated later this year. "Talon loved the city," his mother, Shellee Flohr, said. "The one thing that has made this devastating time in my and my family's life easier is the outpouring of support from the community. It has been the one thing that made all of this a little easier and brighter." Shellee said Talon donated his organs through Lifebanc, providing life-saving donations to five people. Among those saved by Talon: • A woman, 34, received a kidney • A woman, 66, received a kidney • A woman, 60, received a portion of his liver • A boy, 1, received a portion of his liver • A man, 62, received his heart "Talon chose to be a donor, and I was going to stand by that," Shellee said. "I know that he is more than happy with everything that has come out of this. I know that he's still making a difference in those five people and the lives of their families." Flohr was a 2011 Sandusky High School graduate and attended Ohio State University on a full scholarship, receiving a bachelor's degree in political science. He graduated college in 2016. Shellee said the process of being an organ donor was different than she expected and included giving extensive family history and choosing what would be donated. "I wasn't prepared. It was hard for me. They provide grief counseling through the whole thing," Shellee said. "But when they called me in the middle of the night and said all of the organs are viable, that was great. When I got this letter telling me about the recipients, that wiped away any of the stressful times before that." Lifebanc has served northeast Ohio since 1986 as an independent organ procurement organization. The organization works with 80 hospitals in a 20-country area. Shellee and Flohr's father were with him before Talon was taken into the operating room. "The doctors and hospital staff stood while we walked with Talon, and that was a beautiful thing," she said. "All of the good to come out of this outweighed the stress by far. I know that he is looking down on me and that there are people out there carrying on his legacy." Donors do not have to be registered on the state's registry if a person's next of kin provide consent, but registering can ensure donation. "As much as Talon helped before, he's helping once again," Shellee said. "I am going to take the steps to reach out to the recipients. I want people to know about Talon." Lifebanc works to match organs with potential recipients around the country. The organization also can coordinate correspondence between donor families and recipients. "When I got the letter telling me the recipient's ages and a little bit about them, it made such a difference," Shellee said. "It all happens at such a horrible time, but getting that letter made all of that easier." One organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people. In 2020, donors from northeast Ohio saved 463 lives. Shellee said the outpouring of support from the community is incredible. "I never expected anything like this. Thank you to the whole city and community for their support and prayers," she said. "Talon loved this community as much as they seemed to love him." To register as an organ donor, go to the Ohio Donor Registry through the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.