Condolences and Thanks to the Donor and Family
Posted June 17th, 2008 at 5:16PM
First and foremost, I want to say I am so very sorry that the donor lost their life. This was an otherwise healthy person that lost their life due to a sudden tragic event. There is a family out there mourning the loss of this person. This person has left a hole in their loved one's world.
Right now, there is a family who is spreading the shocking news that their loved one has passed away. People are crying in angst and sorrow. Some people are blaming God. There are small children who will not remember this person except by the stories of their heroism and by photos.
I will remember this person, though. Tonight I light a candle for an unknown person who gave two kidneys and a pancreas to my baby brother.
My brother was born with small kidneys. He is now 40. He served his term in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He became Diabetic there and was discharged with medical Military Honors.
His kidneys failed and he started dialysis 6 years ago, and was placed on a transplant list. His nights were long, and his sleep was little. He had constant pain in his back where the non-functioning kidneys burdened his body. He gave himself shots and pricked his fingers to regulate his blood sugars. He didn't ask for it, and he endured.
Last Monday, he was moved up to the top of the transplant list.
This morning, at 5;30 am, he got a call. By 6:30 he was at the hospital, being prepped for surgery. At 3:00, he came out of surgery recovery and into ICU. He is doing well.
His life was spared by another's loss. I am so sorry for your loss, donor family. But please know that every year from now on, on June 17th, I will light a candle in remembrance of your family member. I promise this. My drivers license promises my organs to someone in the event of my death. I have registered on the organ donor sites. I am thankful that they did too.
Thank you.
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Best of luck and speedy recovery to your brother. I know I would be comforted knowing that my loved one has helped someone else.
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Thank you so much for your thanks.
My Dad suffered an aneurysm suddenly in 2005, and we made the decision to donate any needed organs and tissue.
I know his kidneys went to someone that had been on dialysis for 25 years, and although no one has thanked my family, I have always imagined that they were grateful, and I have hoped that they will live a long and happy life with parts of my dad.
His liver, and pancreas went as well.
Anyway, I guess after all my babbling I would just like to say thanks again.
xoxoxo -
It Must be for the New Life give by the Human Beings
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You're welcome to all of the comments.. To follow up, my brother is doing very well. He is no longer Diabetic, nor is he on dialysis. He had birthday cake for the first time in years and is ecstatic to no longer have back pain. I thank God and the donor daily. Be well all! Lori
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I am so glad that he is doing well!
I have a kidney defect, and I know a portion of the troubles that he faced, and I am glad that someones foresight and consideration could help him -
This story inspired me to become an organ donor. :)
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That is sweet of you. I'm sure the donor's family is happy that their person's organs were spared to help someone.
In a way, it's like living longer...at least part of you -
I have the organ donor box "check" on my drivers license. On the day I pass on, I will be passing on another person life.
I hope your brother continues to do well! Thanks for sharing your story. :-) -
A couple of things - 1st, thank you for being thankful. I've had a friend's husband pass due to not being able to get an organ in time. Another friend has been able to keep her daughter for several more years because she gave a part of her liver, but now her beautiful 4 year old needs another one. Organ donors cannot be thanked enough.
I don't know about every state, but many states require that not only you register on your DL as a donor, but that your family consents. Since you obviously won't be able to have your say in that moment, make sure your family is aware of your wishes and promises to follow them through. You can't image how tramatic it can be in the moment and if they haven't heard you out, your organs may go to waste.
Getting off my soapbox now. . . . -
hi
It means so much when the recipient's side does make contact.
My son died in 2003 at the age of 14. we donated his organs. Someone received his cornea, another his heart valves and many others his long bones. All of this remains anonymous.
three days before his funeral an unknown neighbour approached and hugged us. needles to say, we were totally bewildered, It turns out that her 20 year old daughter had received a heart a few years before and they came to thank us for being donors.
eight months later we received thanks and praises from the recipient of Matt's cornea. he is a computer programmer who had slowly been going blind. his vision was restored in the treated eye and he could continue his life, almost 100% as before. his letter was sent to us through the eye institute and his contact details had been blacked out by them.
so, yes, along with you, I thank this donor family for the gift that they have given so unselfishly, and to you milady lori, i say thank you for honouring the gift that this family has given to yours by writing this letter.
love and peace -
my father had a rare disease that affected him in a totally unorthodox way- it shut down his liver. all of his doctor's said there was nothing to be done.
9 mos before his expiration date was up, he met a doctor that said transplantation would do the trick.
they short-listed him and 3 mos later he got the call. a liver was ready for him.
that was 17 years ago.
i will never be able to express how thankful i am that i got another year with my daddy, much less got to dance with him at my wedding.
thank you so much to anyone who is a donor or has a family member that was one. -
Great story L ..... thanks for sharing
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It saddens me when I hear of Donor's Families not receiving a "Thank You" for the Gift their Loved One gave so unselfishly. I have been a recipient on two occasions. Two individuals made the decision to donate, two individuals deaths have increased the quality of MY life, and I am clueless as to how to acknowledge my gratitude. I am able to walk today, because of the long bones of two people who no longer walk this earth. I am sure they are missed. I pray that "the manner in which I walk" honors them. I DO think of them often. And though, by the world's standards, I know nothing about either of them, I have a wealth of knowledge in regards to each.
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