February 12, 2026
Anthony Gonzalez arrived on August 11, 2025. Once comfortably on the outside, Anthony began his life by giving back to others.
Anthony’s mom, Audrey, donated her placenta through Live On Nebraska’s birth tissue program. After a healthy delivery like Anthony’s, the placenta is made into grafts that help people heal from ulcers, wounds, skin cancer and more.
Audrey learned about birth tissue donation through her doctor. The opportunity to give the gift of life held deep meaning for the Gonzalez family.
Anthony’s Dad, Marty, with his brother, Sam | Anthony with his big sisters, Katy, Abigayle, and Mady
“My husband and I felt very moved to participate,” said Audrey, “because in January of 2024, my husband’s brother passed away unexpectedly. Our family was faced with the decision of whether to donate Sam’s organs.”
Audrey said Sam always believed in doing good for others, even if he didn’t know how.
“He lived by the mentality of ‘just do something good for someone else.’ After a great deal of thought and reflection, and drawing strength from who Sam was, our family chose to donate his organs as his final act of kindness.”
Now, Anthony’s life reflects Sam’s generosity.
“Although Anthony never had the chance to meet his Uncle Sam, he carries his middle name. Saint Anthony is the patron saint of finding lost items, which ties this experience back to our family’s faith. We hope this donation not only carries on Sam’s legacy, but also helps create a new one for little Anthony—one rooted in love, hope, and the gift of helping others.”
Audrey described the process of donating birth tissue as easy, straightforward and rewarding.
“We are very proud to have been a part of it, and it has helped us in our grief process. Live On Nebraska has impacted our family tremendously and gave us a sense of full circle. It really shows the ripple effect of donation and how many lives can be touched through one decision.”