Yesterday afternoon at Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, there was an event in which I was honored to participate. The name of the event was “A Child’s Gift…A True Living Legacy.” It was co-hosted by Cook Children’s and LifeGift, a federally designated organ and tissue recovery agency.
The purpose of the event was to introduce the families of children who had donated organs or tissues to the families of the recipients. There were 15 families of donors and 19 families of recipients in attendance, for a total of about 250 people, making this the largest event of this sort in the State. Some families brought as many as 15 members.
My invitation to this event came as a result of my membership in Lions Club, and also my association with the Lions Organ and Eye Bank of our district. There were six of us in attendance. Our responsibility was to host and guide one of the families through the steps of the afternoon’s event.
After the initial registration of the families, there was a general session in the auditorium where two recipients and two family members of donors told their individual stories. These were powerful presentations, complete with struggles and tears. Keep in mind that all of the donors represented by these families were children.
After this, the families were taken to a large meeting room where the two families could meet and talk. For most of these people, it was the first time they had met the donor and/or recipient. There was a lot of hugging and crying. This large room became very crowded, but no one seemed to notice or care. There were mixed ethnicities involved, but again, no one cared. It was all about the loss of life and the resulting gift of life.
I have been exposed to emotional and heart rending situations before, but this one ranks right up there at the top. If you are not a registered donor, please think about the possibility. If you are a donor, make sure everyone in your circle knows your wishes. To pass up the opportunity to give a part of yourself to another struggling human being at the time of your death is a great loss.
Waking of the Bear 
What a wonderful event for you to be involved in. I am a donor and have been for many years. Thank you for helping people deal with this emotional time.
Thanks for your kind words. Organ donors are very special people.
Add me to the no-dry-eyes group. Marvelous, simply marvelous.
I teared-up a few times myself. It was very moving.
Dear Brother,
All words are inadequate when people act with this level of loving, unselfish compassion. These are the bonds that heal the aching and grieving heart and spirit. I am not at all surprised of your participation.
A question: Is this a child to child situation?
Your Brother
For the most part these were child to adult donations, but I think some were child to child.
Definitely the most precious gift that anyone can give… the gift of life. I have always said that when my life is over, whatever part of me that can give someone else a better life, then I want to donate. Many years ago, the donor was not identified and gradually things are changing. As a nurse, I have seen the exchange between a donor’s family and the recipient and it is powerful!
I hope there are lots of my parts that are useful. It gives us a chance to leave something behind and make an investment in someone else’s future.
Please post more pics
I am a donor, Troy, and thank you for this wonderful post that reminded me of why I am and why I urge my loved ones to do the same.