Honoring donors: Utah boy, 3, starts memorial fountain

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Patrick Hoopes, 3, of Taylorsville explores all the statues surrounding the Celebration of Life Monument at library square after he ceremoniously started started the fountain. The monument is dedicated to those who have given the gift of life through organ, eye, tissue and blood donation. Patrick has been on the donor list for a small intestine for three years. Patrick who was essentially born without intestines has been on the donor list for three years in hopes of getting a small intestine.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Brian Hoopes of Taylorsville holds on to his son Patrick, 3, who needs to stay within a tethered distance for his intravenous fluids since he was essentially born without intestines. On Wednesday, April 4, 2012, Patrick ceremoniously started the Celebration of Life Monument fountain on Library Square in Salt Lake which is dedicated to those who have given the gift of life through organ, eye, tissue and blood donation. Patrick has been on the donor list for a small intestine for three years.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Drawn by water Brian Hoopes of Taylorsville stays close his son Patrick, 3, who is tethered to him for his intravenous fluids since he was essentially born without intestines. On Wednesday, April 4, 2012, Patrick ceremoniously started the Celebration of Life Monument fountain on Library Square in Salt Lake which is dedicated to those who have given the gift of life through organ, eye, tissue and blood donation. Patrick has been on the donor list for a small intestine for three years.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Placing flowers, Brian Hoopes of Taylorsville holds on to his son Patrick, 3, who needs to stay within a tethered distance for his intravenous fluids since he was essentially born without intestines. On Wednesday, Patrick ceremoniously started the Celebration of Life Monument fountain on Library Square in Salt Lake which is dedicated to those who have given the gift of life through organ, eye, tissue and blood donation. Patrick has been on the donor list for a small intestine for three years.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Placing flowers, Brian Hoopes of Taylorsville stays close his son Patrick, 3, who is tethered to him for his intravenous fluids since he was essentially born without intestines. On Wednesday, April 4, 2012, Patrick ceremoniously started the Celebration of Life Monument fountain on Library Square in Salt Lake which is dedicated to those who have given the gift of life through organ, eye, tissue and blood donation. Patrick has been on the donor list for a small intestine for three years.

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Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Patrick Hoopes, 3, of Taylorsville explores all the statues surrounding the Celebration of Life Monument at library square after he ceremoniously started started the fountain. The monument is dedicated to those who have given the gift of life through organ, eye, tissue and blood donation. Patrick has been on the donor list for a small intestine for three years. Patrick who was essentially born without intestines has been on the donor list for three years in hopes of getting a small intestine. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Brian Hoopes of Taylorsville holds on to his son Patrick, 3, who needs to stay within a tethered distance for his intravenous fluids since he was essentially born without intestines. On Wednesday, April 4, 2012, Patrick ceremoniously started the Celebration of Life Monument fountain on Library Square in Salt Lake which is dedicated to those who have given the gift of life through organ, eye, tissue and blood donation. Patrick has been on the donor list for a small intestine for three years. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Drawn by water Brian Hoopes of Taylorsville stays close his son Patrick, 3, who is tethered to him for his intravenous fluids since he was essentially born without intestines. On Wednesday, April 4, 2012, Patrick ceremoniously started the Celebration of Life Monument fountain on Library Square in Salt Lake which is dedicated to those who have given the gift of life through organ, eye, tissue and blood donation. Patrick has been on the donor list for a small intestine for three years. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Placing flowers, Brian Hoopes of Taylorsville holds on to his son Patrick, 3, who needs to stay within a tethered distance for his intravenous fluids since he was essentially born without intestines. On Wednesday, Patrick ceremoniously started the Celebration of Life Monument fountain on Library Square in Salt Lake which is dedicated to those who have given the gift of life through organ, eye, tissue and blood donation. Patrick has been on the donor list for a small intestine for three years. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Placing flowers, Brian Hoopes of Taylorsville stays close his son Patrick, 3, who is tethered to him for his intravenous fluids since he was essentially born without intestines. On Wednesday, April 4, 2012, Patrick ceremoniously started the Celebration of Life Monument fountain on Library Square in Salt Lake which is dedicated to those who have given the gift of life through organ, eye, tissue and blood donation. Patrick has been on the donor list for a small intestine for three years.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· April 4, 2012 2:29 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Patrick Hoopes, a Taylorsville 3-year-old who is waiting for an intestinal transplant, on Wednesday ceremonially started the fountain at Salt Lake City's Celebration of Life Monument.

The monument honors Utahns living and deceased who have donated organs. Located on the southeast corner of Library Square at 500 South and 300 East, it includes a wall engraved with donors' names.

On Wednesday, Intermountain Donor Services gathered the families of donors and those waiting for organs to discuss the importance and impact of donating. The group then walked to the fountain to start it for the season and to remember past donors.

Due to health problems caused by birth defects, Patrick has no small intestine, only a partial large intestine, and survives on intravenous fluids.

According to the national Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, there are 616 Utah candidates waiting for organs. Most — 392 — are waiting for kidneys.

The name of every donor who has a connection to Utah can be engraved on the monument's Wall of Honor free. The deadline for submitting names for the annual engraving is June 30.

To learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation or to register on the Yes Utah Donor Registry, log on to http://www.yesutah.org or call 866.YES.UTAH (866-937-8824).