Early Monday morning, an honor walk took place at Riley Children’s Hospital for 12-year-old Josiah Scott, whose organ donation will be a gift of life for several individuals.
Josiah, of Terre Haute, lost his life after a man provided him with an unknown, liquid substance that both drank. Soon after, the 12-year-old and the adult were rendered unresponsive and flown to Indianapolis for medical care.
The adult, Michael E. Baker, 28, of Terre Haute, now faces charges that include reckless homicide.
Josiah’s honor walk took place at 1 a.m. Monday. “Five people have life because of his gifts,” said DeAnna Griffin, a close friend of Josiah’s mom, Karah Scott.
Griffin and Scott described Josiah’s organ donation as a “Christmas miracle ” to recipients and their families.
Donate Life Indiana planned a flag-lowering ceremony for Josiah at 2 p.m. Monday at Riley Hospital’s maternity tower entrance.
For the honor walk and flag lowering ceremony, Josiah’s family provided the following thoughts as part of a moment of silence:
“He had a smile that could light up a room. He was funny and loving. Always tried to make everyone smile. He enjoyed skateboarding, video games and hanging out with friends. Josiah wanted to grow up to become a musician and build a small community to feed and shelter the homeless. He is loved by all who knew him.”
It’s been a difficult week for the family, said Griffin, who has been with Karah Scott during this difficult time and has started a GoFundMe to assist the family.
She is raising funds to cover the funeral costs for Josiah and to help with other expenses.
“We prayed for a miracle, but God’s plan must be to give the miracle to many others and take Josiah home. Karah made the decision to give the gift of life to many by donating Josiah’s organs,” Griffin stated on the fundraising page.
“Unfortunately, funeral costs are high and this family needs assistance with the costs and bills for missing work … If you are unable to give financially, please give in prayer,” Griffin wrote.
Karah Scott is a student at Ivy Tech and single mom of two other children ages 15 and 5 who “who need our community to come together for her during this time. Thank you so much to everyone for all the calls, social media posts, messages. She is very overwhelmed right now, but she appreciates everyone’s prayers, thoughts, and support,” Griffin wrote on the GoFundMe.
The GoFundMe can be found at https://gofund.me/84573869
In an interview, Griffin said, “Karah got a lot of peace knowing that several people who are donor recipients have a special Christmas gift” through Josiah’s gift of life.
“She is so brave,” said Griffin, who has known Karah Scott for many years.
Griffin used to babysit Josiah and his older brother; she would pick them up at school every day and they’d stay at her house a few hours.
They would go to parks and museums. “We had a lot of fun,” she said.
When Josiah and his mom drove past people experiencing homelessness, he’d ask, “Can we adopt that homeless man?”
When his mom asked why, he’d respond, “So I can feed him.”
Said Griffin, “He had a love and compassion for those experiencing homelessness and struggling and he really wanted to help.”
The family hopes to do something in Josiah’s honor that will assist the homeless.
Griffin said the tragedy has brought much compassion and support from the community.
It’s also “a perfect opportunity for parents to have those hard conversations with their kids about substance use, about experimenting with alcohol, talking to strangers,” she said.
In the legal matter, “We definitely want justice,” said Griffin, who is director of Phoenix House, a sober living residential recovery program. She also works with the Vigo County Family Recovery Court.
Her friend, Karah, “is an amazing woman of God and she is trying so hard not to have hate in her heart … but her son never gets to come back. It just is wrong.”
“We trust justice will be served,” said Griffin, who has spoken with the Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office and has confidence in that office’s pursuit of justice.