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To understand the positive, life-affirming impact of organ and tissue donation, it is helpful to hear the words of those who have been touched personally through donation.
Included below are letters that were written by a donor family and two organ recipients. If these letters prove beneficial in your consideration of organ donation, share them with a friend or family member, and then check back as we will be adding new letters throughout the year.
Donor Families Speak
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Letter from a donor mother
"As a parent, the first time we look into
our newborn’s eyes, we imagine a bright future. Great things, special
people -- we imagine Presidents, world class athletes, artists -- people
to be envied.
When I looked into Colby’s eyes,
little did I know what an incredible person he would be.
At fourteen and a half months, he would
change the course of time and accomplish the most admirable of
achievements. He became a hero to many… a lifesaver.
People say they admire what my husband
and I did. I feel we were doing the most natural thing in the world. Colby
was so loving, so full of life. I’m sure had he been verbal, he would
have done the same in a heartbeat. He was the hero.
Maybe in our old age, we may be able to
say of our children, one is an artist, one a firefighter, and one saved
lives… a hero.
We were given a precious gift in Colby.
We continue to have the opportunity to share it with others. A 27-year-old
man received Colby’s kidneys. They are functioning well and he has
returned to work.
Adriana received Colby’s liver when
she was 2 years old. She is growing normally and is now 4 years old.
Brayden was 5 months old when he
received Colby’s heart. He is over 2 years old and doing excellent. He
keeps his mom up nights, and running during the days… providing her just
that much more opportunity to hug her precious gift and revel in a bright
new future.
We thank goodness Colby was given to us,
so that he could give others a bright future. It makes us the proudest
parents of all."
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Amanda
Brooke Baines
October
25, 1982 December 3, 2001
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| On
November 25, 2001, Amanda was involved in an automobile accident in Piney
Flats, Tennessee and on December 3, 2001 she succumbed to her injuries.
As always, Amanda in her short life decided to help others by expressing her
wish to become an organ donor with her family and friends. Now, even
though she has passed, she still lives in three other people and has given
each of them the most precious gift—“LIFE”.
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Amanda
was a 2001 graduate of Sullivan East High School. She was continuing
her education at Northeast State at the time of her accident and she was one
that loved life and the people in it and was trying to make a great life for
herself, but God had other plans for her.
On
occasion, when the subject of death and organ donation arose, Amanda was one
to always say, “What in the world do I need with them when I am gone, they
just might save someone else’s life.” Well, how true those words
are today! She is gone and three people are alive today because (of)
her unselfishness to give to others. Although she is and always will
be deeply missed, it is a comfort to know that she really did not die she
just lives in someone else’s body.
If
I could say anything to each and every one of you here today, please talk to
your parents and loved ones about being an organ donor. Let them know
how you feel and what you would like to have done if something like this
should ever happen to you. It’s not an easy decision for your loved
ones unless they know how you feel. Don’t make it hard on your loved
ones; make it easy like Amanda did!
Thank
you all for listening to my story today, it means a great deal to know that
in some indirect way Amanda may be helping each of you today to make
decisions that are hard to talk about and not easy to deal with, but are
reality everyday!
Finally,
always remember:
The clock
of life is wound but once, and no man has
the power
to tell just when the hand will stop at late
or early
hour. Now is the only time you own; live,
love,
toil with a will, place no faith in tomorrow;
or the
clock may then be still.
One Proud
Mother,
Kim Baines
Recipient Expressions of Gratitude
Letter from a pancreas recipient
"I am a pancreas transplant recipient who received a gift of life on October 4, 1994.
I am so very grateful that the donor family was able to graciously give -- in their time of sorrow and pain -- to people they never knew before. I thank God for this miracle daily.
I was 40 years old at the time of the transplant, and virtually on the brink of death. Enjoyment of life, and daily activities, became harder and harder to obtain as the days, weeks and months marched on.
I waited two and a half years, before a match was found for me. The wait was very difficult on me, my family, and friends. But, it was well worth it.
I can do so many things now, that most people take for granted. These things had become impossible for me to accomplish prior to the transplant. Things such as: work full-time as a Legal Administrator; shop at the mall; travel to sports events, concerts, places out-of-state and abroad; exercise; and enjoy a good night’s sleep without the necessity of my husband arousing me in the middle of the night to see if I am conscious. I no longer have "9-1-1" programmed into my phone memory, and I think the paramedics actually miss coming to my house regularly to save my life. I am even studying for my Master’s Degree.
Life is so incredibly awesome.
I ask for a blessing on my donor family, with each meal, when I say Grace. I stop to smell the roses and pay attention to the little details of my life, thanks to my donor."
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Letter from a heart recipient
"On July 1, 1992, I received my heart transplant at age 34. What a shock it was, being told I needed a heart transplant! I had always been healthy. It stunned not only myself, but my husband, parents, family, friends, and co-workers. The fact that I needed a transplant affected all these people’s lives -- not only for the fact that I was young, but I was in my sixth month of pregnancy when diagnosed with
cardiomyopathy.
Several weeks after being diagnosed, I gave birth to a healthy, 2 lb. 15 oz. baby girl. My condition deteriorated, and five weeks later I received my heart transplant.
The transplant not only gave my daughter the opportunity to know her mother, but it also gave me the gift of life. I now can raise the daughter I always wanted.
My family and I know that if it wasn’t for the gift of love from a family I had never met, I would not be here today, and my daughter would grow up never knowing her mother’s love. The donor and their family will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we will always think of them with love."
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Regional Offices
Golden State Donor Services 1.916.567.1600
Referrals 1.800.762.8819 Fax 1.916.567.8300
Mountain Region Donor Services 1.423.915.0808
Referrals 1.888.562.3774 Fax 1.423.915.1170
New Mexico Donor Services 1.505.843.7672
Referrals 1.800.843.7672 Fax 1.505.343.1828
Sierra Eye and Tissue Donor Services
1.916.569.0200 Referrals 1.800.762.8819 Distribution 1.800.435.5780 Fax
1.916.569.0300
Tennessee Donor Services Nashville
1.615.234.5251 1.888.234.4440 Referrals 1.800.969.4438 Fax 1.615.320.1655
Tennessee Donor Services Chattanooga
1.423.756.5736 Fax 1.423.756.5904
Tennessee Donor Services Knoxville
1.865.588.1031 Fax 1.865.588.5903
Tennessee Donor Services Jackson
1.731.425.6393
Our Corporate Office
DCIDS Organ Services 1.888.234.4440
DCIDS Tissue Services 1.888.234.4399
DCIDS Tissue Orders 1.888.216.0319
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