Family finds peace by donating organs

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A Buffalo family is coming to terms with losing two family members in a massive fire last week. Three-year-old Malachi Watkins and his mother 23-year-old Lequeisha Watkins died after their home on Timon Street was destroyed by fire.

What is helping Malachi’s father get through this tough time is donating his young son’s organs. Malachi’s father had to make the toughest decision a parent could face after learning that Friday morning’s fire claimed the life of his fiancee and left his three-year-old son brain dead. However, he is also comforted in knowing his son will help others.

The fire devastated a family. The mother and child were found the back bedroom of a house on Timon Street. Laquisha died that day. Malachi struggled to survive, but died at the hospital.

“He didn’t want to pull the plug. It was very hard,” said Prophetess Cherise Shabazz, Malachi’s grandmother and the mother of Laquiesha’s fiance.

Prophetess says her son BJ and grandson two-year-old Micah made it out okay. Her son was told Malachi was brain dead, he made an important decision.

Prophetess said, “My son, if you could have seen the smile on his face when he made the decision when he had even known, that another child would be able to get Malachi's heart, just knowing that the kidneys would save another child's life.”

Prophetess says it was tough for BJ to allow doctors to end Malachi’s life support until he realized what organ donation could do, and after he prayed about it.

Prophetess said, “We got great peace.”

The cause of Friday’s deadly fire is still under investigation Tuesday morning.