SANTA FE, N.M. – A Santa Fe family is mourning the death of their 12-year-old son, Vicente Mendoza.

Vicente and his brother were rescued from their home after it went up in flames in January. His brother was OK, but Vicente has been in a coma, fighting for his life.

After many difficult decisions, his family made the impossible decision to let him go. But they are using their tragedy for something good because Vicente was an organ donor. 

“I’m going to remember him as that happy kid that was always giving,” said Estrella Urquidi. 

Urquidi says her son always had a big heart. 

“He would save his lunches from the after school program. Anytime we would see a homeless person, he would roll down his window and make me stop to give it to them. That was an everyday thing,” said Urquidi.

She says her son liked cars, playing sports and loved his family. But his young life was cut short after tragedy struck last month. The family’s home caught fire in the early morning of Jan. 27. 

Vicente and his older brother were inside, and their father had already left for work. The brother escaped out of a window and tried to rescue Vicente, but after several minutes the deputies were able to find him unconscious. 

“Thankful that they did what they did. They risked their lives for my sons,” Urquidi said. 

The 12-year-old was taken to UNM Children’s Hospital in Albuquerque, where he has been on life support ever since. Over the weekend, doctors told the family he would not recover from his injuries.

“It was heartbreaking,” said Urquidi.

But Vicente’s death isn’t for nothing. Even in death, he is continuing to give to others. 

“Even until his last day, he still did, being an organ donor, ” Urquidi said. 

His organs are going to three other people on the transplant list across the country, including another child. Vicente’s mom says this is what her son would have wanted. 

“It gives peace to me knowing my son saved more lives. Other people can have more time with their family members and kids than I did,” said Urquidi.

The family says the fire was electrical, but the tragedy could have been avoided if there were working smoke alarms. They are also encouraging everyone to sign up to be an organ donor. 

There’s a GoFundMe link to help with funeral expenses and to recover everything they lost.