**************** and now a slight break from our ordinary programming ********************
Five years ago this month, I had a son who drowned.
It's an awful sentence to write, but that's the blunt truth. Soon before he died, I made the decision to have his organs donated and my son, Quentin saved the lives of two people. One with his kidneys, and a little Mexican girl with his liver.
I got a call a few months ago that the organ donation organization wanted to honor my son and his gift of life on a float in the Rose Parade. In addition, they presented the idea of introducing me to Maria- the recipient of Q's liver and her family. This is one of only a handful of times EVER that they have made arrangements for the donor's family to meet the recipient. This weekend I met Maria- now six and very healthy and beautiful. And I met her parents. The very days that I was in the hospital losing my son, they were in the hospital losing their daughter. I wish so bad that I had gotten good news as they did, but we were in the same place for those days- in crisis.
This weekend, a mother and father looked into me and thanked me for the life of their daughter.
Words can't express the power of the moments. And even though I had never met this girl, and she was only six and didn't understand fully what had happened to her, she immediately hugged me and loved me like family. The immediate connection was strange. We shared our pictures, our stories and asked the questions that had been on our minds for years. It was an unbelievable experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.
After all the media interviews, organized events and such, it was time to go. We hugged and said our goodbyes and agreed to keep contact. As I left, I turned around and Tono looked at me with tears in his eyes and his hand on his heart and mouthed "thank you".
fuck.
While I was there, I did an interview for a documentary being made by a very sick 28 year old in need of a heart and two lungs. His lips and hands were purple, but he was positive and hopeful. There are thousands in need and many die waiting. You're not using the damn things anyway, you're dead. So don't be an idiot and do what should be your obligation.
If you're not already an organ donor, please become one.
I love you, buddy. You are a fucking hero.
Five years ago this month, I had a son who drowned.
It's an awful sentence to write, but that's the blunt truth. Soon before he died, I made the decision to have his organs donated and my son, Quentin saved the lives of two people. One with his kidneys, and a little Mexican girl with his liver.
I got a call a few months ago that the organ donation organization wanted to honor my son and his gift of life on a float in the Rose Parade. In addition, they presented the idea of introducing me to Maria- the recipient of Q's liver and her family. This is one of only a handful of times EVER that they have made arrangements for the donor's family to meet the recipient. This weekend I met Maria- now six and very healthy and beautiful. And I met her parents. The very days that I was in the hospital losing my son, they were in the hospital losing their daughter. I wish so bad that I had gotten good news as they did, but we were in the same place for those days- in crisis.
This weekend, a mother and father looked into me and thanked me for the life of their daughter.
Words can't express the power of the moments. And even though I had never met this girl, and she was only six and didn't understand fully what had happened to her, she immediately hugged me and loved me like family. The immediate connection was strange. We shared our pictures, our stories and asked the questions that had been on our minds for years. It was an unbelievable experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.
After all the media interviews, organized events and such, it was time to go. We hugged and said our goodbyes and agreed to keep contact. As I left, I turned around and Tono looked at me with tears in his eyes and his hand on his heart and mouthed "thank you".
fuck.
While I was there, I did an interview for a documentary being made by a very sick 28 year old in need of a heart and two lungs. His lips and hands were purple, but he was positive and hopeful. There are thousands in need and many die waiting. You're not using the damn things anyway, you're dead. So don't be an idiot and do what should be your obligation.
If you're not already an organ donor, please become one.
I love you, buddy. You are a fucking hero.
VIEW 11 of 11 COMMENTS
abra:
maybe i should start drinking again...
quella:
I'm so sorry your son died. I'm glad you had teh strength to make the decisions you made, and to celebrate his life. I'm glad you have the courage to let us know. I had a stillborn daughter 10 years ago now, due to a cord injury, and can only know a little of your pain. thank you for shaing this, and reminding everyone to consider organ donation.