In the middle of the third inning on the May 21st Nashville Sounds game, Luke Rodriguez rounded the bases in honor of his father, Manuel Rodriguez, an organ donor who saved four lives with his generosity.
In Loving Memory of Manuel Rodriguez
Manuel Rodriguez was born in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Mexico, the second of nine siblings. Manuel came to Wartrace for work and found not only employment but a home and a family. He began working for Chuck Hawkins of Hawkins and Price Excavating, starting out on the farm and eventually transitioning to the excavation crew. Over the span of 35 years, he became the longest-tenured employee at Hawkins and Price—a testament to his loyalty, hard work, and character.
It was also in Wartrace that Manuel met Dana, the girl who, at 12 years old, had said she would marry him one day. That promise became a reality when they wed in 2005. Their son Luke, now 10, was the absolute center of Manuel’s world.
Manuel was a devoted husband, a proud and loving father, and a loyal friend. He loved not just in words, but in action. His kindness, strength, and quiet leadership left a lasting mark on all who knew him.
On May 26, 2024, Manuel was critically injured in an accident on his family farm when a tree he was cutting fell, causing severe brain damage. He was life-flighted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, where he was surrounded by the love of 62 friends and family members who came to say goodbye, breaking records at the hospital. On May 29, 2024, Manuel passed away. In his final act of generosity, Manuel became an organ donor, giving the gift of life to others through Tennessee Donor Services. He was a hero in life, and remains a hero in legacy.
A Legacy of Love: The Story of Manuel Rodriguez, Organ Donor
On Sunday afternoon, May 26th, Manuel Rodriguez was doing what he often did—working hard, taking care of things the way he always had. As he trimmed a tree, a heavy limb fell, striking his head with devastating force. The impact fractured his C1 and C2 vertebrae, causing instant, irreversible brain trauma.
Though the injury was catastrophic, Manuel’s body—fueled by the strength and resilience he had shown throughout his life—continued to fight. He was airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, where doctors stabilized him and placed him on a ventilator. Despite their efforts, testing revealed minimal brain activity. The reality was heartbreaking: it was only a matter of time.
In the quiet intensity of a hospital room filled with uncertainty and love, Tennessee Donor Services approached Dana, Manuel’s devoted wife, with a question no family is prepared to answer: Had Manuel ever considered being an organ donor?
At first, the question felt abrupt, almost too much to bear. But Dana, together with their son Luke, turned to God for guidance. In their sorrow, they prayed—and in that stillness, God made it clear. The answer was yes. This, they believed, was what Manuel would want. His giving heart—so full of compassion and love in life—would now give the ultimate gift in death.
Time was precious. The donor team worked swiftly, preparing for the sacred process ahead. On May 29th, just three days after his accident, Manuel was officially declared brain dead. Though kept alive by machines to preserve his organs, his soul had moved on. The halls of Erlanger Hospital grew quiet as doctors, nurses, family, and friends gathered for the Honor Walk—a solemn tribute to a man whose final act would give life to others. As Manuel was wheeled down the corridor, the tears were heavy and the grief thick, but there was honor in every step.
His young son wept, standing bravely by the body that had once held his father’s embrace, as Dana wrapped her arms around him. Their pain, shared by all who stood in those hospital halls, echoed through the silence. When the elevator doors opened and closed, it marked a profound ending—and a new beginning.
Manuel’s life didn’t stop on that day. It continues now, beating in the chests of four individuals who received his organs—four lives forever changed by one man’s final, selfless gift.
Through the pain, there is peace. Through the loss, there is life. And through Manuel Rodriguez’s unwavering spirit, love lives on.
“I can’t Thank you, Nashville Sounds & TN Tennessee Donor Services, enough for the incredible night! says Dana. What an honor it was for Luke to run the bases for his dad. Luke was the jewel in his Daddy’s crown on this earth. Now Manuel shines within our hearts every day, missing and loving him every second. Nights like this, honoring Manuel are the highlights of our being. Constantly reminding ourselves that when you look for Christ you will find him and with him everything else.”
