Organ Donation and Thanks

23 I was cooking dinner for Thanksgiving on Thursday and saw an excerpt that was aired on ESPN. Chris Henry, a wide receiver for the Bengals had passed away after suffering injuries in an MVA. Because his mother decided to donate his organs, several people received a new lease on life. I had to put my mashed potato scooper down and had myself a good cry. Before you think I am a total wimp, I want to share my last Thanksgiving experience with you.

I had to work in the OR last Thanksgiving. Although I was bummed that I would not be having dinner with my husband, I went in and knew that we would only be doing emergency cases so I expected a relatively light working day. How wrong I was.

We were alerted that the ER had a patient that was DOA. I wish I could tell you more about the tragedy surrounding this event, but to do so would be walking on the wrong side of HIPAA. The family consented to organ donation and I set up the OR to do the harvest. I spent 15 grueling hours doing meticulous organ recovery. When we were done, I sent the staff out of the room. I sat beside the OR bed and looked at this poor young person. I picked up their lifeless hand and said a prayer for their soul, hoping that they would find peace. I shed several tears during this time.

After I felt more composed, I walked out of the room. I went to the OR front desk and saw the most beautiful thing. A soldier and his family were in pre-op. They were so excited because this brave man would be getting the life saving liver that I just helped recover. I couldn't help but get misty again. One life has ended and another was beginning.

I went home EXHAUSTED. My dear husband had dinner re-heated for me, but I could not eat. I was outside having some hot chocolate and heard the helicopter buzz over my house that carried my patient's other organs to another location. I just smiled. I spent that Thanksgiving doing what I love and in the process learned a very valuable lesson: to GIVE is precious. To be thankful is humbling. I witnessed both that day, and I will forever be honored to be a part of that.
My old fiance was murdered 6 years ago, and we donated his organs. I know nothing of who recieved them, but I love knowing that his tragedy was able to save so many other lives. It's a great gift to be able to give. Nursing can be so frusturating and hard at times. I can just imagine how great it must feel to be able to say that you were a part of that. Reading posts like this are very refreshing. Thank you for sharing.

Simply-Honey, I am so sorry for your loss. I can't even pretend to know what that is like, and any words of comfort would seem trite. Organ recovery is such an emotional thing. On the one hand, I must keep my emotions in check while in surgery. On the other hand, I am weeping on the inside because most of our organ recoveries are resulting from tragedies. I just wanted to share my thoughts...and thank you for responding.

That's such a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing. I would feel comforted knowing that my loved one was in such kind and caring hands at such a terrible time. Your post is also a reminder of how much we truly have to be thankful for this holiday season.

Thank you for your lovely post, it brought tears to my eyes. My cousin was blessed with a kidney donation 12 years ago. It is such a selfless and one of the kindest things one family can do for another.I had to go to the er yesterday (I fractured my ankle) and while I was there someone was brought in from an MVA who was DOA. As we left I bowed my head, prayed for the family and the poor soul who died, and I also prayed that they would choose to donate the person's organs to help so many others out there.

Quote from canesdukegirlSimply-Honey, I am so sorry for your loss. I can't even pretend to know what that is like, and any words of comfort would seem trite. Organ recovery is such an emotional thing. On the one hand, I must keep my emotions in check while in surgery. On the other hand, I am weeping on the inside because most of our organ recoveries are resulting from tragedies. I just wanted to share my thoughts...and thank you for responding.

Thanks for sharing your story. I've been there. It's a haunting, humbling thing to be part of. One precious life goes out giving a last gift to others as it passes. Even in the darkest hour, there is grace.

Thank you for sharing the story. :redpinkhe

[quote=Anisettes;4657420 Even in the darkest hour, there is grace.[/quote]I could not have put it more eloquently had I enlisted the help of Shakespeare himself. Beautiful sentiment. Thank you for understanding, and for putting my own thoughts into a more pragmatic and honorable statement.

My late husband was an organ donor when he died, and the man who received his kidney had a baby this year with his girlfriend. They named the baby after my late husband, a wonderful gesture on their part.

My nephew died in a MVA also. His liver and kidneys were donated. Time passed and my cousin became pregnant with twin boys about that were born 5 days short of the one year anniversary of JT's death. We were so thankful for healthy baby boys. Then, on March 31 of this year one of the twins died of SIDS. We were so angry and bitter toward God. Then one week later we received a letter from the family of the young boy who had received one of JT's kidneys. It was the restoration of faith we so desperately needed. All of this to say, organ donation makes a difference for both the giving and receiving family. Please consider it for yourself or your loved one.

Beautifully said...

I also saw the Chris Henry piece, it literally made me cry...in the middle of my football prep. I was fortunate enough to take part in a Gift of Hope organ harvest from a really lovely 24 year old woman. She had lived a rough, sad life since her mom passed when she was only 11. Since then she got into a little trouble and played around with the wrong drugs. I imagined her on Thursday thinking she was just going to have a little fun over the weekend, but by Saturday morning she was brain dead from a heroin overdose. She had sense enough to think of others and registered as a donor. During the process of finding recipients for her donor organs/tissues, I was given the opportunity to learn/practice several new therapies such as lymph node harvesting, A-line insertion, and proper suture technique. So, before she even gave her organs she had already taught me skills that will potentially aide in saving other lives.It took a while to find a recipient for the heart since the families are made aware of the recreational drug activity. Finally, Sunday morning I traveled with her to the ER and helped harvest her liver, pancreas, both kidneys, heart and other tissues. Her lungs weren't viable because of some time in jail, other tissues and organs had their own reasons. Either way, I imagined as we walked into the OR that somewhere in PA a grown man was being wheeled into his very own OR and being prepped for his new heart. Somewhere in IN and WI two others were being prepped for their new kidneys. I had been made aware of the recipients beforehand and it really made the process that much more meaningful. It was magical. I felt like I was in a slow motion scene from John Q or ER. That young woman was a hero to me. Despite leaving this world in such an unfortunate way, she did more good than most will ever do. That brings everything into perspective for me. Thank you guys and gals for your stories.