Teens have gotten increasingly interested in social media challenges in recent years. Everything from eating ghost peppers to dumping a bucket of freezing water over themselves has become a method of increasing the number of likes and comments on social media posts.

The choking challenge was a task that went horribly wrong for a youngster from Indiana. Mason Bogard, a 15-year-old from Evansville, witnessed other people taking part in the challenge and wanted to attempt it himself.

That was a decision that would cost him his life. Mason was transported to the hospital after passing out after choking himself, where doctors fought feverishly for days to save his life.

When physicians realized there was nothing further they could do for Mason, they contacted the Bogard family about giving him organs.

While they realized there was nothing they could do to bring Mason back, knowing that his contribution would save many others made the experience tolerable.

On May 6, when Mason was taken into the operating room for organ donation surgery, scores of physicians, nurses, hospital workers, friends, and family lined the corridor outside the operating room to pay respect to this brave young man.

Mason’s immediate family came to a halt at the end of the corridor to say their final goodbyes.

Mason’s anguished father, Steve Bogard, whispered a few beautiful final words to his son, conveying how proud he was of him. “Go be a hero, buddy,” he sobbed.
Mason’s mother, Joann Bogard, and sister were also present to give him one last embrace.

Joann then shared the video on social media to raise awareness about the hazards of the choking challenge and other viral challenges. The family has named the campaign “Mason’s Message” with the goal of preventing other families from going through the loss of a loved one.

Mason’s organ donation saved the lives of six others.

While his tale is terrible, it has raised awareness about organ donation and how it may assist others.

His tale is told in the video below: