[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THANKING KRISTEN AND TRAVIS COWAN FOR RAISING ORGAN DONATION AWARENESS

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                            HON. PETE OLSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 2020

  Mr. OLSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kristen and 
Travis Cowan of Katy, TX for their work turning a family tragedy into 
life-giving acts: promoting organ donation.
  Two years ago, the Cowans lived every parent's nightmare when their 
13-month-old son Rylen passed away from bacterial meningitis. Kristen 
and Travis lost a son and their six-year-old son Corbyn lost his 
brother. In the face of this devastating loss, the Cowans chose to save 
lives by donating Rylen's organs.
  This decision could not have been an easy one but doing so saved the 
lives of five others. The Cowans then began the Smilin' Rylen 
Foundation in honor of their son, a charity that helps raise funds for 
organ donation-centered charities and increases awareness of lives that 
are saved through organ donation.
  Recently, the Cowans were flown out to California for the Rose Bowl 
Parade by the nonprofit LifeGift, one of their charity's beneficiaries 
and the organization that procured Rylen's life-saving organs. Travis 
and Kristen walked with LifeGift's float in the parade, which was 
themed ``A Light in the Dark'' and bore Rylen's picture.
  Organ donation is a selfless act that, in death, gives others the 
gift of a longer life. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional 
District of Texas, I thank Kristen and Travis for their work to raise 
awareness of the selfless act of organ donation. My deepest 
appreciation to Rylen for his inspiration and the gift of life he gave 
others that ensures his memory lives on.

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