BOTHELL, Wash. -- Two-year-old Madelyn Kmetz has her daddy's eyes. Her 4-year-old brother Dexter has his essence.
"The second there's any expression or animation, it's just the splitting image of Chris," said Jackie Kmeta.
And now two strangers have the kidneys of Chris Kmetz.
Kmetz was driving home to Bothell from his job as a Boeing analyst February 23rd, when his car flipped into a drainage pond off I-5. He lived a week before his children went to the hospital to say goodbye.
"We had him wear a 'Superdad' shirt and the kids were dressed in their Superman shirts. Superman's a very big role model for my husband, kind of the epitome of who he wanted to be," said his widow.
Kmetz had a collection of Superman shirts, and dressed up like Clark Kent at work every Halloween. Friends and family saw how Kmetz resembled his humble hero.
"Chris was known for having been someone who'd give the shirt off his back for anybody at any time. He's a very selfless guy," said his wife.
When Kmetz died last month, she sent a message to friends: "In true superhero fashion, Chris passed away today and saved two lives."
Jackie Kmetz was surprised to discover that of the 100 million registered organ donors in the US, very few can save lives. Last year there were 8,000 who met the specific medical criteria.
"Less than 1 percent of the people who die in a hospital meet those criteria," said Kevin O'Connor, the president and CEO of LifeCenter Northwest.
Knowing her husband is bettering lives is helping Kmetz cope with the tragedy. She encourages everyone who can to register at www.LCNW.org to become an organ donor.
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