A Patient That Changed My Life

Thank you for the beautiful article. My family was blessed with 13 years with our mother after another family who lost their loved one, gave my mother the gift of life. A heart. I prayed and thanked God for that family each and every day.

This is a beautiful story about the power and gift of organ donation. The selfless act that grieving families do in order to give life. These stories get me right where it counts everytime. Thank you for this.

My brother was an organ donor. It was very hard on my mom but just knowing that someone else might live, made a difference.Thank you for sharing this beautiful story!!!

Absolutely beautiful, and a great way to show both sides of the coin.

What a fantastic story!! Who says there are no miracles anymore?

hey.. just want to know if your name is "catherine" because you use the codename "cathrn"... just asking..

beautifully written, heartwarming story!!

Wow! That's a wonderful story! I decided when I was 13 yrs. old that I wanted to be an organ donor. I told my mom and my family, and my mom promised me that if anything ever happened to me, then she would donate my organs. I had an aunt die of cancer at age 12, a grandpa die of lung cancer at 13, and a best friend die of a brain tumor and leukemia at age 14 (he was 14 also). I knew what it was like to watch someone suffer and watch a family lose their loved one. I wanted to know that I could help bring life to someone if there was no hope for me. At the age of 29, I am still an organ donor. I am a registered eye donor and organ donor now. I also am the mother of a beautiful and wonderful 6-1/2 yr. old daughter. I can not imagine losing my daughter, and I hope I don't ever have to go through that, but I have already made the decision that if anything ever happened to her, I will donate her organs also. I became a nurse at age 25, and I have had many patients whose lives were changed by organ donation. It's so wonderful to know that the person you love has a chance at life because one or several people decided to simply mark DONOR on their license! It's free to do! It's not hard to do! What so many people don't realize is that most of the time the organs are removed and disposed of if you aren't a donor, so it's just wasted organs that could have helped save a life. I was once told that ONE person's donated organs can save as many as 15 LIVES! That's the most amazing thing ever! It's no different than giving blood or plasma! You are keeping a life alive with your selfless donation!

I have also made the decision to be an organ/tissue donor. My entire family knows of my wishes. Organ donation was the topic of my final speech in my speech class. At the end of my speech, I handed out donor cards to the entire class. I received a standing ovation! It was a very moving moment. There were several in the class crying saying that they had no idea that there was such a need for organ donation. I told them that if only one of them made the decision to become an organ/tissue donation that it would help so many people.I also spoke with them about donating blood and/or plasma. I am O negative, so I donate blood or plasma routinely. I also speak with my co-workers about donating blood.

Thank you, CathRN, for your input on this very important subject!

Olivia started Kindergarten just a few days ago. She called my wife last night (with mom's help), and extolled the virtues of school and certain classmates. The food, according to Olivia, does not indeed "rock". And, "OMG, she had to take a nap!"Sometimes, it's great to be alive.

Thanks for sharing. That was such a heart warming story.