Portland mom rocks kindness, spreads organ donation awareness
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A local mother is turning grief into hope — one painted rock at a time.
Anne Carleton, who lost her son Hayden in 2011, launched the "Hayden Rocks Kindness" movement, spreading kindness and raising awareness about organ donation.
The initiative, inspired by Hayden's legacy, has grown into a nationwide effort that has distributed over 30,000 rocks with positive messages.
The idea for the movement came after Hayden’s sudden death from a pulmonary embolism. In 2021, Carleton found two painted rocks left behind by her son.
That discovery sparked her decision to turn her grief into something meaningful.
On Wednesday, Carleton and a team of volunteers delivered 1,300 hand-painted rocks to the Dougy Center, a nonprofit providing grief support to children and families.
Each rock, painted with messages of hope and positivity, serves as a reminder of the power of community and love.
“It offers hope and kindness in honor of Hayden,” Carleton said. “Every rock painted is connected to his legacy.”
For many of the volunteers, the act of painting rocks has been a source of healing. Lori Beyers-Thelen, a longtime volunteer, said, “She really saved me,” reflecting on how the initiative helped her process her own grief.
Hayden’s legacy extends beyond the rocks. At 15, he signed up to be an organ donor when he got his driver’s permit. His organs saved seven lives, including two recipients who received his eyes. Through the "Hayden Rocks Kindness" movement, Carleton continues to honor her son’s decision, inspiring others to register as organ donors.
Brennan Wood, executive director of the Dougy Center, praised the support Carleton has rallied for grieving families. “To know that other members of our community are beside them, rooting for them, in it with them, is such a beautiful thing,” Wood said.
Carleton says she hopes her initiative highlights the power of transforming grief into a force for good.
April is also Organ Donation Month.