My Dad, his legacy by Charlotte
I have the comfort of knowing my Dad was an organ donor
My Dad passed away in early 2014. Today, and for all the years to come, we will live with the consequences of him being gone and while the pain is not the raw shock and denial it was one year ago, that feeling of loss will always be there. Yet I still consider myself lucky as I have the comfort of knowing my Dad was an organ donor and something of a hero to many, myself included.
The fear that you will never hear or see your loved one again can be overwhelming. My Dad spent his last night playing cricket on the beach, laughing with his daughters over homemade shortbread ice cream, and watching ‘The Hobbit’ with his son and wife. It was the perfect end to a brilliant life, almost as though he had designed his last night with us himself. But within hours we were faced with the question of whether or not we would donate his organs. Phrased like this it seems harsh, but for those who need that second chance at life it really does come down to yes or no.
I do not believe I have ever experienced such kindness as that from the doctors and nurses at the hospital. With us they cried as we said goodbye, held our hands as we sat in shock, and how they treated Dad with the greatest respect through the entire process. Today we live with the relief that we made this decision. It offers hope against the finality of death and out of our loss came the ability to prevent another family from suffering the heartache that we have.
Organ donation is a beautiful creation, and one that stems from great tragedy. Perhaps this is what makes it the most precious gift of all and reminds me why my Dad’s life was so valuable. For those who have received an organ and those who make it possible, I want to say how grateful I am. You hold a very special place in my heart for letting my Dad live on.
Christopher’s Story, by Tammie Heedes
Christopher was premie but he was healthy, he had bronchitis which they diagnosed as asthma as
soon as he turned 2.
Growing up, Christopher loved to play sports, and beat up his little sister. He was an intelligent child with his whole life ahead of him. We never thought of Christopher as a sick child. He was just another child with asthma.
The story of losing Christopher started around 2 months before he passed. As I’m sure most of you are aware it’s hard to talk to kids and get their full attention, I use to do my meaningful conversations in the car, that way the kids can’t run away.
I was about to go into hospital so I was talking to Christopher about how I am a donor. I explained
that if something happened to me I wanted him to know that I was a donor so if the doctor asked
they could make sure my last wish was granted.
Christopher asked me why I was a donor and I explained when I pass I don’t need my organs and there are a lot of people out there who do need them. He turned to me and said if anything happens to me I would like to be a donor too. Just as he said this my daughter pipes up from the back of the car and says no one is getting my organs I’m taking them with me. As you can imagine the car was full of laughter.
When Christopher passed we knew his wish and it wasn’t a question we needed to ask ourselves, as soon as I was told he was brain dead we asked to speak to the donor coordinator to make
arrangements. we were able to donate 6 organs.
Christopher may not have been an angel growing up but making the decision to donate his organs
made him an angel in passing.