JOPLIN, Mo. –– R.J. Daniels, an 18-year-old Missouri student, died of an accidental gunshot wound last week in his hometown of Joplin, but the tragedy may have a silver lining, as his organs could help over 20 lives.

When Pat Russell went with Daniels, her son, to get his most recent driver’s license, she was initially taken aback that he checked the box to become an organ donor in the event of his death.

After all, she told him, she wasn’t sure how she would be able to handle someone harvesting his organs, should such a time come. Daniels wasn’t swayed.

“He said, ‘But, Mom, what difference does it make after I’m gone? It could help other people,'” she said.

Daniels decision to be an organ donor could apparently help a minimum of 23 people in his death. His corneas, two heart valves, some skin grafts and several major bones were harvested late last week by the Midwest Transplant Network. The act was, in the end, blessed by his parents, Steve and Pat Russell.

Daniels, a senior at Joplin High School in southwestern Missouri, was shot and killed Thursday night while visiting an acquaintance’s home. The Jasper County coroner has said he believes the shooting to have been accidental.

Pat Russell said Daniels was heavily involved in Saturday Night Live, a weekly worship event at Central Christian Center in Joplin. He was a counselor there, making himself available to talk to students who were struggling with drug abuse or mental health issues.

“RJ was just a very, very helpful kid with people, and he never judged anybody,” she said. “He was always willing to lend a helping hand. He would give his shirt off his back.”

JHS senior Tulsi Nursariwala, 17, said she met Daniels in the first grade. The pair became less close as they entered middle school and high school, but Daniels always had a smile for her and continued to call her by her nickname, “AJ,” she said.

“He was a quiet guy, but once you got to know him, he was really kind,” she said.

Younker writes for the Joplin, Missouri Globe.