Demetrias “Dewey” Waters of Towson, MD, was the class clown. Dewey had super high energy throughout his childhood and had a love of soccer and video games. Despite his Baltimore upbringing, he was a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, which led to much teasing from his family and friends who were Ravens fans. Luckily, he was also super fan of the area’s semi-pro soccer team, the Baltimore Blast. While Dewey presented a tough exterior, his family knew he had a tender heart underneath it all.
Dewey was born one month early, weighing just five pounds. Not expecting Dewey to arrive so soon, his grandfather, Edward, was out hunting during his birth. Upon hearing about Dewey, Edward rushed over to the hospital. In honor of the circumstances in which he came, Edward would nickname Dewey “Little Buck.” That nickname stuck through the years.
His high school years were during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many teenagers, he had some struggles during this time, which eventually led to him dropping out of school. Despite these challenges, “Little Buck” persisted on. He always had the intention of going back to school for a GED.
When he was 17, Dewey went with his grandfather to the motor vehicle office to get his driver’s license. He was asked about whether he would like to be an organ donor. Dewey asked his grandfather what this meant; Edward explained that when someone dies, they can potentially donate their organs to save the lives of people in need of an organ transplants. Dewey asked whether he should sign up; his grandfather answered that Dewey needed to decide for himself.
Dewey got a job at MOMs Organic Market, in the bake shop, when he was 18. He really liked his coworkers and enjoyed the opportunity to get to know his customers. He found much meaning in his work. Things were looking up for Dewey and he was starting to plot his path forward, even though being an adult was a lot of pressure.
Tragically, Dewey died after he was involved in a car accident in April 2024. His family, many of whom worked in the medical field, were heartbroken to have lost Dewey. However, they found comfort in knowing he had decided to check yes in the box to be an organ donor two years prior. Because of this, he was able to donate both his kidneys, pancreas, heart and liver and save four lives by doing so.
“Donation brought the family a sense of comfort in a tragic time,” said his grandmother, Kathy Baldwin. “If we had to lose him, we were glad that something good came of it.”
His uncle, Dan Baldwin, said, "My parents called to tell me Dewey was in a bad accident and he died, and it struck me how we were in shock, grieving and sad; but, four other families were getting a call with good news, thanks to his generosity to register to be a donor."
Dewey’s family is acutely aware of the holiday season this year, as not only is it their first one without him, but recently his first birthday since his death passed. Luckily, they have each other to lean on as they mourn him; and they take solace in the fact that four people are alive today thanks to Dewey’s tender heart.
One donor can save up to 8 lives through organ donation and save and heal more than 75 lives through tissue donation. You can save lives like “Little Buck” did. Learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation and register as a donor at infinitelegacy.org.
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