"Organ donation is not a tragedy but it can be a
beautiful light in the midst of one.” - Anonymous
My son and I live in Brookville, which is a small
community. The second week of school on
Friday, August 28th four teenagers were involved in a car accident. One young lady died at the scene the other
three were sent to hospitals. Two of the
three in critical condition. On Sunday,
August 30th another one of the young ladies died from her injuries. She was a
classmate of my son. On Monday the
school held a prayer vigil in the evening for the community. More than 500 people attended. The parents of the young lady that died on
Sunday were there. They shared with all
in attendance the pain of losing of their daughter. They begged all the teenagers there to not
speed. To stop and think when they are
driving. They also shared that they had donated Emily's organs to save other
lives. It was the only moment in the
evening when everyone clapped and cheered. Not only will she live on in the
hearts and minds of her family and friends, she has now brought hope to
others. Because of their selfless act of
organ donation several lives were touched.
When someone is an organ donor the funeral home and the
family will receive a letter from the Tissue Bank. It will list the information about where the
organs went. Not specific names but it
will say something like her lungs went to a 28 year old female in Michigan
Organ donation saves lives. 1 Organ donor can save up to 8 lives and heal
up to 50. 22 people will die each day
waiting for an organ. How can you help?
You can register to be a donor. If you would like further information on organ
donation or how to register visit www.organdonor.gov. In the state of Ohio
Organ donation is a personal decision that everyone has
to make for themselves. If you’re a
donor make sure that your family and friends know your wishes. I hope through the gift of her donation that
Emily's family can begin to heal. Just
like the healing that her gift brought to all who received her organs.
"Without the organ donor, there is no story, no
hope, and no transplant. But when there
is an organ donor, life springs from death, sorrow turns to hope and a terrible
loss becomes a gift." - UNOS
By Angela Garrett
