PHOENIX — The tragic passing of 16-year-old Mario Abraham Torres Jr. has led to a profound act of generosity, saving multiple lives through organ donation. His mother, Brooke Ballesteros, described her son as a passionate individual, with boxing being his primary love. “He was an incredible boxer, and he was going places,” she said, reflecting on his dedication to the sport.
In September 2023, tragedy struck when Torres Jr. suffered a fatal injury during a sparring session. Unbeknownst to his family, he had sustained a mild concussion prior to the match. “When he got hit in the head, it ultimately ruptured the blood vessel, and he collapsed,” Ballesteros recounted. Following his death, she made the decision to donate his organs, ensuring that he would continue to impact the world positively.
Abraham’s organs helped save five people, including Christopher Leslie, who was facing kidney failure. Leslie had been reliant on dialysis and was in dire need of a transplant. “I was in stage 3, so really no going back after that,” he explained. After a long wait, Leslie received the call that changed his life. “It was early in the morning,” he said. “They called and said, from a scale of 1 being the best and 10 being the worst, it was a 2. They said they rarely get that even from live donors.”
Emotional Reunion
After years of communication, Leslie and Ballesteros finally met face-to-face on Thursday, resulting in an emotional embrace. “He’s definitely a hero,” Leslie stated, reflecting on the profound impact that Torres Jr.’s donation had on his own life.
Torres Jr. will be honored at the Phoenix Raceway this year, where his image will be showcased on the car of driver Joey Gase. This annual tradition aims to raise awareness for organ donation, a cause that holds personal significance for Gase. “For anyone to say yes to donation is a selfless act and helps so many different people,” Gase remarked. He added that his own mother was an organ donor, reinforcing his commitment to promote this essential cause.
As family and friends gathered to write messages on Gase’s car in memory of Torres Jr., they celebrated both the life lost and the lives saved through his generosity. “It could save a life,” Leslie affirmed. “It saved mine for sure.”
The story of Mario Abraham Torres Jr. serves as a poignant reminder of the far-reaching impact of organ donation and the legacy of compassion that one young life can leave behind.