If you search for “Holden Trent,” you’ll quickly see how much respect he earned in the world of Major League Soccer. Drafted in the first round by the Philadelphia Union in 2023, Holden spent two years with the team as a goalkeeper. Before turning pro, he played college soccer at High Point University in North Carolina and was well known for his leadership on the field. More than his athletic achievements, 25-year-old Holden was highly respected for his work ethic, kindness, and genuine love for the game.
“He started playing soccer when he was three years old,” said his mother, Annie B. “By the time he was six, it was the love of his life. We laugh, because when he went to his 8th grade dance with a girl, the only time he smiled was when he took a picture by himself with a soccer ball. He wasn’t just a player; he was truly a student of the game. He was always looking for other players who might add to his team and make it better.”
While many fans admired his success on the field, not everyone had the privilege of knowing the caring and loving person he was off of it.
“He loved his family,” said Annie B. “He was very protective of me, his sister, and his fiance, Brie. We were the three women in his life. He was passionate about the things that mattered to him, which were family, soccer, and his teammates. He expected the best from himself and those around him.”
On October 26, 2024, Holden tragically passed away. It was a huge loss to all who loved him, both on and off the field. While at the hospital, HonorBridge staff came to speak with his family about the possibility of donation. For Annie B., knowing her son was a registered organ donor made the decision much easier.
“Losing my son was the most heartbreaking moment of my life—a pain I wouldn’t wish on anyone,” she said. “The shock, the grief, the emptiness…it’s hard to put into words. But in the middle of that darkness, I remembered something he had told me with such pride and excitement: that he had signed up to be an organ donor when he got his license. He said, ‘If I can’t be here, I want others to be able to keep living life.’ That was his heart—always thinking of others. There was no hesitation in honoring his decision. Even in his passing, he gave the gift of life.”
Having spent much of his youth battling Crohn’s Disease, Holden knew all too well what it felt like to be sick and limited by his condition. For him, being an organ donor meant having the opportunity to help others go outside, participate in activities, spend time with friends, and attend school.
“He was such a sickly little boy for so long,” said Annie B. “He really didn’t want anyone to ever have to feel that way. We thought that Holden might end up being a recipient at some point, due to some of the health issues he had. He was a kid who did a lot of growing up, because there were a lot of trials and tribulations along the way. His perseverance, tenacity, and his ability to never give up was really what defined who he was.”
While in the hospital, Holden’s family received an outpouring of support from HonorBridge, hospital staff, and friends and family that Annie B. says she will never forget.
“We had hundreds of young people who had flown in from all over the country to say their goodbyes and be there for each other in that time of grief,” she recalled. “That was huge, and HonorBridge was great about helping us navigate the process. I knew I couldn’t handle days and days of what we were going through at the hospital, so Honorbridge was really helpful and understanding of my need to move forward. I know that limited the breadth of where we could donate organs, but they worked with me, and that was really helpful. Waiting another few days was going to be really hard for us.”
Annie B. says the ICU staff were incredibly kind, bending the usual rules and making space for everyone who came to support Holden.
“There were at least 100 people at all times lining the hallways in their ICU lobby,” said Annie B. “I’m very thankful that they let all of these young people come and be together. For his Honor Walk, the entire current High Point University men’s soccer team came, as well as many of his old teammates and even their parents. It was very special. I think that’s a testament to Holden, to the teams that he was on, and the people that he impacted.”
Eventually, Annie B. received an outcome letter from HonorBridge informing the family of exactly where Holden’s gifts of life had gone. Holden’s liver saved a man in his fifties, his heart saved a man in his forties, and his kidneys saved the lives of two women—both with full lives ahead of them. The impact of his tissue gifts is immeasurable and will continue for years to come.
“I think about those people every day,” she said. “I hope they’re living a life of purpose, because they’ve been given a second chance. At some point, I would love to meet these people, but I know that’s up to them. I hope they’re doing well. I know there’s always a chance that things won’t take, but Holden was a risk taker, so he would have been willing to take that risk.”
Since his passing, Annie B. has created a nonprofit called Goal 13 Foundation that honors Holden’s legacy with services benefitting young student-athletes, including mentorship, coursework, resources, and more.
“Once he started his professional career, Holden and I had lots of conversations about all the things that he wished he had learned earlier in life,” said Annie B. “We had talked about ways that we could impart some of that knowledge to young student-athletes that didn’t come from their parents or coaches. As a former teacher with a love of education, I instinctively knew that this was what I was called to do. It’s a way to remember Holden, but it’s also a way to help young student-athletes flourish on and off the field.”
Annie B. says that Holden would be excited about the work being done in his honor, and that she feels blessed that he brought so many young people into her life over the years.
“Because of Holden, I am the mom to many,” said Annie B. “He was the 11-year-old kid who would come home from practice and say things like, ‘Mom, this kid isn’t going to have dinner tonight unless you pick him up and grab him something to eat on the way.’ He would always point out when another kid needed a pair of cleats and suggest we buy them as a Christmas present. He was always looking after the underdog, the kids that didn’t have anything. I think he would be so pleased that we are working with that population that needs that level of support.”
Annie B. says the loss of her son has shifted her perspective on what’s really important in life, admitting that she’s probably less tolerant of people who complain about small, everyday inconveniences.
“I feel like in our world today, we are putting our emphasis and importance on things that, in the grand scheme of things, just don’t matter,” she said. “Life’s a little simpler now. I sold my house, and now I have a small apartment in Greensboro and a townhome in Raleigh where my daughter and sister live. I have a grandchild coming, so being with family is important. I’m really intentional about who I’m with and who I spend time with, and I have a wonderful tribe of close friends.”
Inspired by her son, Annie B. urges others to live a “life of purpose” by giving back in meaningful ways—one of which is registering their decision to become an organ, eye, and tissue donor.
“A life of purpose is having direction and doing something good to give back to your community,” she said. “Not living a life for you but living your life for other people. Holden was very focused in life, and I think he would be proud of being an organ donor and proud of what I’m doing now. I miss my child every second of every day, and my life has changed, but I can’t imagine wanting any other family to have to go through what I have been through. Organ donation allows other families to keep living together as a family unit, and everyone should want that for others.”
75 or more lives can be saved and healed by one organ, eye, and tissue donor. Sign up today!
